Mon Jan 13 21:45:00 UTC 2025: **Finance Minister Highlights Need for Tech-Savvy Security Force to Protect India’s Digital Infrastructure**
Gandhinagar, January 14, 2025 – Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the urgent need for a technologically proficient security force to safeguard India’s burgeoning digital infrastructure from growing cyber threats. Speaking at the Rashtriya Raksha University’s (RRU) 4th convocation ceremony on Monday, she highlighted the increasing misuse of technology by “vested interests or dark forces” targeting India’s economic growth.
Ms. Sitharaman emphasized that India’s rapid digital expansion, encompassing banks, stock markets, e-commerce, and other online services, makes it a prime target for malicious actors. She warned that this vulnerability necessitates a robust internal security apparatus equipped to handle the complexities of digital warfare. “For a large country like India, security is not just about borders,” she stated. “Technology doesn’t recognize borders; it is being misused.”
The Finance Minister lauded the RRU graduates’ crucial role in strengthening national security, particularly in defending India’s digital public infrastructure. She noted that India’s economic growth is attracting both well-wishers and those who seek to undermine its progress. She expressed confidence in the university’s graduates’ ability to protect India’s economic, social, and sovereign rights in this evolving digital landscape.
Ms. Sitharaman also highlighted the remarkable shift in India’s defense sector, transitioning from a major arms importer to a significant exporter. She attributed this success to the Modi government’s policy support, citing the export of products such as Brahmos missiles and Pinaka rocket systems as evidence of this transformation. She stated that India’s rise in the global defense market, from among the top importers to a top 25 exporter, is a significant policy achievement.
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