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India ranks among top 10 in ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index-2020, Released on 29 June 2021

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India ranks among top 10 in ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index-2020, Released on 29 June 2021
India has moved up by 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2020 launched by the International Telecommunication Union on June 29, 2021

Introduction

The Security component of the Cyber Domain has, in the post-pandemic era found extensive attention. Cyber Security has become the most discussed subject, as the proliferation of the IT and ICT has penetrated more than expected during the Work From Home (WFH) Scenario, Schooling From Home Regime, etc. The measurement of Cyber Security Strength, has for long been a need for all nations. It is with this aim that the United Nations (UN) under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as part of the United Nations specialized agency, with it Headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland, had taken the initiative in year 2017, to formulate the Cyber Security Index (GCI).

The Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) is a trusted reference that measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity at a global level – to raise awareness of the importance and different dimensions of the issue. As cybersecurity has a broad field of application, cutting across many industries and various sectors, each country’s level of development or engagement is assessed along five pillars – (i) Legal Measures, (ii) Technical Measures, (iii) Organizational Measures, (iv) Capacity Development, and (v) Cooperation – and then aggregated into an overall score.

Based on a multi‐stakeholder approach and initiative, the GCI leverages the capacity and expertise of partner and measurement organisation, with the objectives of improving the quality of the survey, fostering international cooperation, and promoting knowledge exchange on this topic. The ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA)​ ​provides the general foundation and framework for the initiative.​

The Fourth Edition of the GCI termed “Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020” was released on 29 Jun 2021. This latest edition has been released timely and will assist countries to promote further action towards secure digital ecosystems needed for recovery and growth. It will also help address the growing cyber capacity gap between developed and developing countries by fostering knowledge, upskilling, and building competencies.

The tally of evaluation is as under:

 

Countries Measured

Collection Year

Focal Points from Countries

Submitted Questionnaires

Median Overall Score Growth since 2018

194

2020

169

150

9.5%

 

The GCI results show overall improvement and strengthening of all five pillars of the cybersecurity agenda, but that regional gaps in cybercapacity persist. Illustrative practices by countries have been highlighted in the report. The Index maps 82 questions on Member State cybersecurity commitments across the five pillars.

Top 5 Position are occupied by these Countries in the list of Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020:

  1. The US.
  2. The UK and Saudi Arabia.
  3. Estonia
  4. South Korea, Singapore and Spain.
  5. Russia, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.

India in the Tally:

  • India is placed on the 10th spot. In 2018, it was ranked on the 47th spot. It was ranked rank 47 in 2019. (India jumped 37 places since its previous ranking)
  • India scored a total of 97.5 points from a possible maximum of 100 points
  • In the Asia-Pacific region India secured the 4th spot.
  • Neighbours China and Pakistan were ranked at 33 and 79, respectively.

Reasons for India’s improved performance

  • Cyber Security Strategy
  • Cyber Inclusiveness of Citizens
  • Digital Financial Inclusiveness of the population
  • Technology adoption for e-Governance initiatives
  • The Capacity Building steps added to reduce gap of digital disparities thereby driving more digital reliance in the post-COVID era.
  • India voicing concerns of International Cooperation among Member States to tackle implications of terrorist exploitation of cyber domain more strategically
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