The National Cybersecurity Exercise – Bharat NCX 2025 was officially inaugurated today by Deputy National Security Advisor Shri T. V. Ravichandran, in the presence of Rashtriya Raksha University Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel. Conducted jointly by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), this exercise marks a strategic advancement in India’s cyber defence, focusing on “Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace.”

Bharat NCX 2025 convenes cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, defence personnel, and industry leaders nationwide for a two-week immersive simulation of real-world cyber incidents. These include sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure, deepfake manipulation, autonomous malware responses, and API security breaches, alongside their mitigation strategies.

In his keynote address, Shri T. V. Ravichandran highlighted that cybersecurity underpins national security, economic stability, public safety, and citizen trust across sectors such as governance, healthcare, energy, transportation, and defence. He emphasised the importance of realistic drills and simulations like Bharat NCX to ensure readiness.

Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel noted that over the past two decades, cyber and AI capabilities have become powerful tools in cyber defence. The digital domain has evolved into a key arena for statecraft, competition, and conflict involving nation-states and state-sponsored actors. He outlined core objectives including proactive cyber-attack prevention, reducing vulnerability to threats, and accelerating recovery with minimal impact.

Key features of Bharat NCX 2025 include live-fire simulations of attacks on IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems, practical insights into AI’s role in cybersecurity, and enhanced collaboration among government, public and private sectors, and industry stakeholders to build collective resilience.

A Strategic Decision-Making Exercise (STRATEX) will engage senior leaders across sectors in managing national cyber crisis scenarios, sharpening their strategic decision-making skills. The CISO Conclave will gather Chief Information Security Officers to discuss key cybersecurity, AI, and OT developments, share insights, and explore emerging policy frameworks.

The Bharat Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition will showcase Indian startups contributing innovative solutions towards a secure and self-reliant digital infrastructure.

Running from 21 July to 1 August 2025, the exercise concludes with a joint debrief to consolidate lessons, assess operational and policy insights, and chart future strategies for national cyber resilience.