In the rural stretches of India, smartphones and internet access are no longer novelties — they’re necessities. Digital payments are replacing cash, students are attending virtual classes and farmers are experimenting with tech-driven agricultural practices. But as digital adoption accelerates, so do the risks.
While 63% of India’s population lives in rural areas, many face cyber threats they barely understand. According to the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), 90% of Indians lack basic digital literacy, making the nation’s population highly vulnerable to cybercrime. Women often face greater challenges with digital exclusion due to traditional societal expectations that limit their access to technology and opportunities outside the home.
Cybersecurity experts warn that without basic digital literacy and cyber hygiene, millions of people could be excluded from the country’s projected $1 trillion digital economy. The consequences go beyond data breaches: lack of cybersecurity awareness threatens access to jobs, entrepreneurship and financial services.
Recognizing this, the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), with support from the Kyndryl Foundation, recently launched the Advanced Cyber Skill Centre in Mumbai. Inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, the center aims to train youth and women from tier-II and tier-III cities using cyber ranges and simulators — tools that replicate real-world cyber threats to build practical skills — preparing them for local and global employment.
Here, Pam Hacker, Vice President of Social Impact at Kyndryl, speaks with Vinayak Godse, CEO of DSCI — a multiyear Kyndryl Foundation grantee — about why cybersecurity training for India’s rural youth is key to building a secure and inclusive digital economy.
