National Capacity Building Workshops on Cybersecurity, Cyber Hygiene and Financial Safety
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1. Introduction and Project Background
The National Capacity Building Workshops on Cybersecurity, Cyber Hygiene and Financial Safety were organised by the Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance) in collaboration with Mastercard and CyberPeace as part of a national effort to strengthen digital safety awareness across India.
The initiative was designed to respond to the rapid growth of digital payments, online services, and technology-driven platforms, which has also led to an increase in cyber threats, financial fraud, and digital exploitation affecting citizens, students, communities, and small businesses.
The programme focused on:
- Building practical awareness
- Encouraging responsible digital behaviour
- Equipping participants with simple tools to protect themselves in the digital ecosystem
The workshops combined:
- Policy-level engagement
- Community outreach
- Academic participation
This ensured cybersecurity awareness reached diverse sections of society.
Workshops Conducted
- Constitution Club of India, New Delhi — 28 October 2025
- Village Maliyada, Khunti, Jharkhand — 23 November 2025
- Community Hall, Vivek Vihar, Sector 82, Noida — 27 December 2025
- Lemon Tree Hotel, Patna — 09 January 2026
- KIIT University, Bhubaneswar — 10 January 2026
- Assam Police Headquarters, Assam — 02 February 2026
Together these workshops created a national platform for awareness building and capacity development in cybersecurity and financial safety.
2. Overall Approach and Key Themes
Across all locations, the workshops followed a structured approach combining:
- Awareness sessions
- Practical demonstrations
- Real-life case examples
- Interactive discussions
Key Themes Covered
- Understanding cyber threats such as phishing, online fraud, identity theft, fake applications, and social media risks.
- Promoting cyber hygiene practices such as strong passwords, safe browsing, secure digital payments, and protection of personal information.
- Building awareness about financial safety and avoiding online scams.
- Encouraging responsible digital behaviour and timely reporting of cyber incidents.
- Strengthening collaboration between government, industry, academia, and communities for a safer digital ecosystem.
Each workshop was adapted to the local audience including:
- Students
- Community members
- Professionals
- Veterans
- Tribal populations
3. Workshop Summaries by Location
3.1 New Delhi
- Venue: Constitution Club of India
- Date: 28 October 2025
Overview
The New Delhi workshop marked the launch of the national capacity-building programme. It brought together government officials, cybersecurity experts, industry representatives, and civil society stakeholders.
Who Attended
Participants included:
- Shri M. Nagaraju (Secretary, Department of Financial Services)
- Shri Praveen Khandelwal (Member of Parliament and Secretary General, CAIT)
- Students
- NGOs
- Traders
- Representatives from Mastercard and CyberPeace
- Experts in digital finance and cybersecurity
Key Sessions and Activities
- Keynote addresses on cybersecurity awareness in India’s expanding digital economy
- Launch of a cyber awareness comic series
- Sessions on digital fraud risks
- Behavioural change for cybersecurity
- Citizen responsibility in building a secure digital ecosystem
Key Outcomes
The workshop established the policy and strategic foundation for the national campaign.
3.2 Khunti
- Location: Village Maliyada, Khunti, Jharkhand
- Date: 23 November 2025
Overview
A community-focused programme aimed at spreading cybersecurity and financial safety awareness among tribal communities.
Who Attended
- Students
- Villagers
- Community elders
- Youth and women
- Local government representatives
- Block Head and Deputy Block Head
Key Sessions and Activities
Sessions focused on:
- Basic cyber hygiene
- Social media safety
- Protection from online scams
- Fake profiles
- Message-based scams
- Financial fraud
Key Outcomes
Participants gained practical knowledge to identify suspicious activity and protect personal data.
3.3 Noida
- Venue: Community Hall, Vivek Vihar, Sector 82
- Date: 27 December 2025
Who Attended
- Students
- Community members
- Army veterans and families
- Local residents
- Shopkeepers
- Banking community
- Small merchants
Key Sessions
- Phishing and payment fraud awareness
- Fake applications and identity theft
- Two-factor authentication
- Safe browsing practices
- Secure digital payments
- AI-enabled fraud and deepfake scams
Key Outcomes
Participants learned how to identify scams and safely use digital services.
3.4 Patna
- Venue: Lemon Tree Hotel, Patna
- Date: 09 January 2026
Who Attended
Participants included students and faculty from:
- Patna University
- NIT Patna
- BIT Patna
- Chanakya National Law University
Also present were educators, professionals, and business owners.
Key Sessions
- Online fraud awareness
- Cybercriminal tactics
- Safe social media usage
- Password safety
- Verifying digital communications
Key Outcomes
Students and professionals developed stronger understanding of cyber risks.
3.5 Bhubaneswar
- Venue: KIIT University, Odisha
- Date: 10 January 2026
Who Attended
- Students
- Faculty members
- Young professionals
Key Sessions
- Phishing awareness
- Online financial fraud
- Identity theft
- Unsafe social media practices
- Safe browsing
- Password security
Key Outcomes
Students gained practical cybersecurity knowledge and were encouraged to act as responsible digital citizens.
3.6 Assam
- Venue: Assam Police Headquarters
- Date: 02 February 2026
Who Attended
- Investigating officers from Assam Police
- NGO members
- Representatives from Laghu Udyog Bharati Women Wing (North East India)
Key Sessions
- Cyber safety fundamentals
- Emerging cyber threats
- Preventive practices
- Practical demonstrations
Trainer Shubhangi Shifa led the sessions.
Key Outcomes
The workshop strengthened collaboration between police, civil society, and awareness partners.
4. Overall Outcomes of the Workshop Series
Across all six workshops, the programme successfully reached a diverse audience including:
- Policymakers
- Students
- Community members
- Professionals
- Veterans
- Tribal populations
Key Achievements
- Improved awareness of cyber threats and financial fraud
- Increased adoption of cyber hygiene practices
- Better understanding of safe digital behaviour
- Increased confidence in identifying online scams
- Reinforced importance of cyber incident reporting
- Strengthened collaboration between government, industry, academia, and communities
Participation
The workshop series saw participation from approximately 600 participants across multiple regions of India.
