PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh on Friday participated in the International Conference on Advancement in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics (ICACSDF-2026) organised at UPES University. Organised by the School of Computer Science at UPES, this international conference was attended by researchers, cybersecurity experts, industry experts, and students from across the country and abroad. Topics related to cybercrime, rising cyber threats, and digital security were discussed at the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that today, digital technology has penetrated nearly every aspect of people’s lives. “From banking, education, health, communications and governance to industry, energy, transportation and critical infrastructure, our reliance on digital systems is steadily increasing. Therefore, a digital India is our strength, but a secure digital India is our need. Data is an instrument of war and we must ensure that it is safe to prevent its misuse. Operation Sindoor set the frame for future warfare with the enhanced use of technology,” he said.
Congratulating UPES and all the organisers for organising the conference, the governor said that cybersecurity is directly linked to the country’s technological progress, economic security, citizen confidence, and national security. Cybersecurity capabilities must also increase with the pace of technology. He said that people’s trust in the digital system will only be maintained when they are confident in the security of their data, identity, hard-earned money, and the country’s critical systems. Describing digital forensics as a crucial pillar of cybersecurity, Singh said that as the nature of crime changes, the methods of crime investigation must also change. Crucial evidence is available on mobile phones, computers, servers, networks and other digital media. The identification, preservation, and scientific analysis of this digital evidence have become crucial for the justice system and law enforcement agencies.
The governor said that universities and research institutions must step forward to develop new solutions in the field of cybersecurity. “Through education, research, and innovation, we must develop the ability to stay ahead of changing cyber threats. Self-reliance in cybersecurity means developing our own technology, our own experts, our own solutions and our own security capabilities. This requires the government, universities, industry, security agencies and society to work together,” Singh said.
He expressed confidence that ICACSDF-2026 will not be limited to just a conference but will become a platform for new ideas, research, collaboration and innovation, which will give a new direction to India’s digital security.
UPES vice chancellor Sunil Rai said, “As societies and economies become increasingly digital, cyber resilience is fundamental to building trust in our connected future. Universities have an important role in bringing together research, technology and industry expertise to anticipate emerging threats and develop responsible, practical solutions. ICACSDF 2026 created an important platform for researchers, practitioners and students to exchange knowledge, deepen collaboration and advance solutions in areas such as AI-enabled cybersecurity, digital forensics and next-generation security.”
