On Friday, members of Parliament expressed apprehensions regarding cybersecurity in the new Parliament building and urged banks to implement sufficient measures to safeguard the financial assets of the general public.
The MPs highlighted the necessity of enhancing cybersecurity awareness across the country and proposed the development of a “cyber consciousness index” for assessment. During a meeting of the Committee on Information and Communication Technology Management in the Rajya Sabha at the Parliament House Annexe Building, committee members engaged with top officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the public sector Punjab National Bank.
The committee had met under the chairmanship of AAP member N D Gupta, where the secretary, MeitY gave a presentation to the members on issues of cyber security and the manner in which the ministry and organisations under it are addressing the same.
The presentation covered the measures being implemented to strengthen the cybersecurity of Member Services and ensure the security of the new Parliament building. Panel members raised concerns and posed questions to the officials during the session. The Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and representatives from Punjab National Bank also participated, sharing their perspectives on the regulatory framework. They discussed the measures taken to implement mechanisms for cybersecurity, digital identity, digital payment, and steps being taken to enhance these aspects.
Sources indicate that panel members directed top officials of the bank to prioritise the security of the financial assets of the public and posed several inquiries on the matter. In light of increasing instances of cybersecurity breaches and fraud, the panel is expected to summon senior officials from private banks soon. Members are also planning field visits to bank headquarters in Mumbai to assess the cybersecurity measures implemented by banks. The panel has already engaged with officials from the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank, addressing concerns related to cybersecurity. Additionally, officials outlined measures taken by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to ensure the security of Members of Parliament at the new Parliament building, addressing members’ queries on the matter.
