Fortifying India’s Critical Infrastructure: U.S.–India Cyber Security Partnership Unveiled by AmCham India

 In an era where digital systems undergird national security, AmCham India’s conference, “Cyber Security for Critical Infrastructure: U.S.–India Partnership”, held on January 28 2025 at New Delhi’s Taj Mansingh, brought together top minds from both nations. The event underscored how safeguarding sectors like energy, finance, telecom, transport, and healthcare is now a shared geopolitical priority. 

🚨 Opening Remarks from Industry & Government Leaders

• Ranjana Khanna, CEO of AmCham India, started the conference by declaring that future warfare will be contested primarily in cyberspace. 

• Salil Gupte (Chairman, AmCham & President Boeing India & South Asia) emphasized the urgency of U.S.–India collaboration to design resilient cyber frameworks. 

• Lt Gen M.U. Nair, National Cyber Security Coordinator, reiterated India’s stature as a global digital powerhouse with 1.2 billion users and over 56 million M2M devices. 

Key Insights: Session Highlights

1. Fraud Prevention & Cross-Border Vulnerabilities

Moderated by Microsoft’s Mandar Kulkarni, this session featured leaders from Visa and Google Pay. Notably, Google Pay used AI to block ₹13,000 crore in fraud during 2023–24. 

2. Securing Critical Infrastructure

Honeywell’s Ashdin Bharucha guided discussions with expertise from former scientist Major Gen Ravi Chaudhary. Topics ranged from IT‑OT convergence to micro‑segmentation and backup strategies. They highlighted that 22% of ransomware attacks target BFSI sectors. 

3. Detection & Response with AI

Microsoft’s Kulkarni returned to moderate a panel featuring Fortinet, IBM, and S&P Global. S&P highlighted how they manage 78 trillion security signals daily, while Visa underscored its system’s ability to process 65,000 transactions per second, evaluating over 500 attributes in milliseconds. 

Government Action: Legal, Policy & Infrastructure Measures

• Dr. Pavan Duggal (Supreme Court Advocate) emphasized gaps in cyber law, noting India’s IT Act is nearly 25 years old and that “every nine seconds a company in India faces a ransomware attack.” 

• Narendra Nath Gangavarapu (JS, NSCS) highlighted steps taken by NCIIPC, including sectoral CSIRTs (finance, telecom, power), new certification protocols, and scheduled cyber‑range exercises at Ahmedabad from February 2025. Sector‑specific penalties for breaches (up to ₹50 crore) ensure compliance.

Moving Ahead: Public‑Private & International Cooperation

A recurring theme across sessions was the essential role of public-private partnerships in fostering cyber resilience. Experts stressed international collaboration—especially between the U.S. and India—was critical to counter borderless threats. 

Why This Matters for India

• India’s digital ecosystem—built on financial services, healthcare, telecom, and transport—relies heavily on critical infrastructure protection.

• With the rise of AI, IoT, and intelligent automation, adversaries increasingly exploit vulnerabilities across physical and digital domains.

• Frameworks like NCIIPC’s tailored policies, CSIRTs, and cyber‑range tools are essential to future‑proofing infrastructure.

✅ Final Thoughts

AmCham India’s U.S.–India cyber security conference marked a pivotal moment in reinforcing India’s critical infrastructure. Pulling together key stakeholders—from government bodies, major tech and finance firms, to legal experts—it showcased a unified front in cyber preparedness.

As digital ecosystems become increasingly intertwined, ongoing collaboration across policy, technology, and legal fronts will be crucial. With tangible outcomes like penalties, drills, AI detection deployment, and legal reform discussions, India and the U.S. are charting a robust path towards a more secure cyberspace.