Indian government redefines ministry roles in telecom and cybersecurity

The Indian government has recently redefined the roles of key ministries concerning telecom network security, cybersecurity, and cybercrime through amendments to the business allocation rules. As a result, this strategic reorganisation ensures that each ministry is assigned clear responsibilities, streamlining efforts to manage these vital areas more effectively.

The roles have been precisely delineated to enhance governance. Specifically, the Ministry of Communications is responsible for telecom security under the Telecommunication Act of 2023, which enables authorities to access traffic data, including from OTT services like WhatsApp. Meanwhile, cybersecurity falls under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), as outlined in the IT Act of 2000, with strategic guidance provided by the National Security Council Secretariat.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) oversees cybercrime, working closely with the Department of Telecommunications to address fraud and utilising tools such as Pratibimb to track mobile numbers involved in cybercriminal activities.

There is an ongoing debate on regulating OTT communication services. While telecom companies continue to push to regulate these services under the Telecom Act, the government in India has reiterated that OTT services like WhatsApp and Telegram fall under the Information Technology Act. This differentiation reflects the broader scope of the IT Act in handling digital communication services, even as pressure mounts for more stringent telecom-specific regulations.