2022 · GS Paper 3 · Q19 · 15 marks
What are the different elements of cyber security ? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.
In short
Cyber security rests on network, application, information, operational, recovery and end-user elements, and India's strategy succeeds partially: institutions such as CERT-In, NCIIPC and I4C exist, but coordination, law and skills lag. The National Cyber Security Strategy drafted in 2020 is still not formally released.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 297 words
Network and application security
Firewalls, intrusion detection and secure coding guard systems, the layer breached in the 2022 AIIMS Delhi ransomware attack.
Information and data security
Encryption and access control protect data, now backed by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Operational security, recovery and education
Access rules, business continuity plans and trained users block misuse, restore services and resist phishing.
Policy vision
The National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 set a secure-cyberspace goal and a five lakh workforce target that remains unmet.
Institutions built
CERT-In, NCIIPC (2014), the National Cyber Coordination Centre, I4C (2020) and the Defence Cyber Agency (2019) cover response, critical systems, crime and defence.
Recognition and gaps
The ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 placed India in Tier 1 with 98.49, but agencies lack a single command chain and hardware is largely imported.
Release the NCSS
Notify it with a statutory coordinator and clear agency mandates.
Skills and supply chain
Scale Cyber Surakshit Bharat and extend trusted-source rules beyond telecom.
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This chapter in the exam
Cyber Security9 questions
Asked in 9 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2024Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
- 2021Keeping in view India's internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2022 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.