The Finance Ministry has directed key financial entities—including the RBI, major banks, and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)—to heighten cybersecurity vigilance amid rising tensions with Pakistan. The advisory emphasizes safeguarding India’s core financial infrastructure, especially digital payments platforms like UPI, which process 17-18 billion transactions monthly worth ₹24 lakh crore.
This urgent alert follows recent escalations, including India’s Operation Sindoor and retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Pakistan targeting border regions such as Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. The government has specifically instructed institutions to reinforce digital security measures across core banking systems, real-time settlements, and payment gateways.
Additionally, CERT-In and RBI had earlier advised preparedness against potential cyberattacks. CERT-In, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, monitors cybersecurity across digital assets, while NCIIPC—part of NTRO—focuses on protecting critical infrastructure essential to national security and economic resilience.
