UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24: India has announced that it will fully finance the establishment of a United Nations portal dedicated to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) security, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening global cyber resilience and supporting developing nations through capacity building initiatives.
The announcement was made by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, during the plenary session of the Global Mechanism on ICTs in the Context of International Security. The initiative is intended to create a collaborative digital platform that will help countries improve cyber security capabilities and facilitate knowledge-sharing on emerging digital threats.
Harish said the proposed portal originated as an Indian initiative in 2022 and has now gained broad international support after years of negotiations and consensus-building.
“India is pleased to provide the complete funding required to operationalise the portal as a United Nations platform, enabling meaningful action after years of policy discussions,” he said.
UN Portal to Strengthen Global Cyber Cooperation
The upcoming portal is expected to become a comprehensive resource centre for governments, institutions and cyber professionals worldwide. It will feature learning materials, training opportunities, a global calendar of cyber capacity-building programmes, and an interactive forum for collaboration among member states.
India’s financial contribution will cover the technical development, deployment and long-term maintenance of the platform, ensuring that it becomes a practical tool rather than simply a repository of documents.
Officials believe the portal will encourage stronger international cooperation while helping countries with limited cyber infrastructure improve their digital security frameworks.
CERT-In to Provide Technical Support
India’s national cyber incident response agency, CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team), will play a central role in developing the technical architecture of the UN portal.
CERT-In will oversee testing, infrastructure planning and technical consultancy to ensure that the platform operates securely and efficiently while meeting international standards.
The involvement of India’s premier cyber security agency reflects the country’s growing expertise in protecting digital infrastructure and responding to evolving cyber threats.
Bridging the Digital Security Gap
Addressing delegates, Harish stressed that many developing countries continue to face significant challenges in building cyber security capabilities despite rapid digital transformation.
He noted that the portal is designed to reduce disparities between developed and developing nations by providing equal access to training resources, expertise and best practices.
According to him, the initiative should remain dynamic and continuously updated so that countries can respond effectively to emerging cyber risks rather than relying on outdated guidance.
India Highlights Inclusive Digital Development
India also used the forum to underline its broader approach toward digital governance, pointing to the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure model as an example of inclusive technological growth.
Harish said digital innovation can only deliver lasting economic and social benefits when backed by strong cyber security systems capable of protecting governments, businesses and citizens from increasingly sophisticated attacks.
He added that cyber capacity-building must remain demand-driven, transparent, politically neutral and tailored to the specific needs of individual countries.
Support for the Global South
India reiterated its commitment to assisting developing countries through knowledge-sharing and technical cooperation.
Harish cited the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, under which nearly 50,000 professionals from Global South countries have received fully funded training during the past five years.
The programme has delivered around 400 specialised courses through more than 100 leading Indian institutions, covering subjects such as cyber security, e-governance, artificial intelligence, digital governance and big data analytics.
He said India’s experience demonstrates that large-scale digital capacity-building can succeed when backed by sustained political commitment and international collaboration.
Dedicated UN Cyber Capacity Group Welcomed
India also welcomed the creation of a Dedicated Thematic Group on Cyber Capacity Building under the UN Global Mechanism.
The new group is expected to coordinate international efforts, identify capacity gaps and promote practical cooperation among member states to improve cyber resilience across regions.
India believes the establishment of the group reflects the growing recognition that cyber security is an essential pillar of international peace, sustainable development and digital transformation.
A Step Toward Safer Global Digital Infrastructure
The funding commitment reinforces India’s expanding role in global digital governance and cyber diplomacy. By supporting the UN ICT Security Portal and contributing technical expertise through CERT-In, India aims to help build a more secure, inclusive and collaborative international cyber ecosystem.
As cyber threats become increasingly complex and interconnected, the new platform is expected to serve as an important mechanism for sharing expertise, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting secure digital development across both developed and developing nations.