The Indian Navy successfully organized a strategic seminar on the “Impact of Cyber Attacks on Maritime Sector and Its Effects on National Security and International Relations” at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16 October 2025. The event served as a crucial platform to enhance awareness of cyber threats in the maritime domain and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard India’s maritime infrastructure.
Inauguration and Keynote Address
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi welcomed the gathering and the Chief Guest, Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Commerce & Industry.
In his Keynote Address, Shri Prasada emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity in protecting the maritime sector, stressing the need for a robust and responsive cyber defence ecosystem to secure India’s maritime assets, trade channels, and data networks.
Admiral Tripathi reiterated the government’s focus on the maritime sector as fundamental to India’s economic and strategic growth. Under the vision of “Samudra se Samriddhi”, he underscored initiatives such as Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, Sagarmala, and PM Gati Shakti, urging that cybersecurity be built into all maritime systems from the planning stage itself. He called for enhanced inter-agency coordination and faster information sharing to combat evolving cyber threats.
Thematic Panel Discussions
The seminar featured three expert panel discussions led by senior officials and thought leaders from ministries, national agencies, and private enterprises.
Participating institutions included the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), GAIL, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), and the National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
The panels explored:
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Global Cyber Threats to Maritime Infrastructure
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Civil–Military Partnership for Cyber Resilience
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Maritime Sector as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII)
Discussions highlighted the urgent necessity of identifying the maritime sector as an independent CII, given its critical linkages with trade, defence, and national energy security.
Tech Exhibition and Indigenous Innovation
A Technology Exhibition was held on the sidelines of the event in partnership with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI). The exhibition featured indigenous innovations in cybersecurity, AI-driven maritime systems, and defence technologies showcased by Indian start-ups. The initiative reinforced the Government’s vision of Aatmanirbharta and Viksit Bharat 2047, underlining innovation-driven self-reliance in critical technology domains.
Outcomes and Strategic Significance
The seminar led to key outcomes, including the identification of systemic vulnerabilities in the maritime digital ecosystem and the formulation of mitigation strategies to fortify cybersecurity resilience. It also emphasized the significance of public–private–defence collaboration, ensuring a unified national approach to cyber defence in the maritime sector.
The event reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s dedication to advancing maritime cyber resilience and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to secure India’s strategic interests in the digital era.
Conclusion
The Indian Navy’s seminar brought together policymakers, technologists, and defence leaders to deliberate on the complex interplay of cybersecurity, national security, and international relations. As India accelerates toward a connected and technology-driven maritime future, the Navy’s commitment to building a secure and resilient maritime cyber architecture remains central to achieving a safe, self-reliant, and digitally empowered maritime ecosystem.
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Source: PIB
