UGC, AICTE looking for introducing cyber security courses at UG and PG level

With a growing focus on controlling cyber crime, the University Grants Commission ( UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have asked universities and technical institutions to introduce cyber security and information security as a subject at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. The move comes on the recommendation of the task force on National Security System headed by former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra.

The task force was set up by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and was mandated to review existing processes, procedures and practices in the national security system and to suggest measures to strengthen the national security apparatus.

AICTE has asked its institutes, who are expanding their courses to include computer science or information technology, to add one of the four courses — cyber security, information technology (information and cyber warfare), biometrics and cyber security, cyber forensics and information security — at post-graduate level.

AICTE chairman S S Mantha said that institutes had been given time till month-end to apply. On the demand for such a course he said, "At the post-graduate level I am sure there will be a demand. Cyber security is an important issue and experts are required all over the world. We have the best IT expertise and we should leverage that."