Bharat NCX 2025

The National Cybersecurity Exercise – Bharat NCX 2025 was officially inaugurated on July 21, 2025, by the Deputy National Security Advisor, Shri T. V. Ravichandran. This two-week immersive exercise, organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), aims to significantly bolster India’s cybersecurity preparedness.

Key aspects of Bharat NCX 2025:

• Participants: It brings together a diverse group including cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, defense personnel, and industry leaders from across the country.
• Duration: The exercise runs for two weeks, from July 21 to August 1, 2025.
• Theme: The overarching theme for this year’s exercise is “Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace.”
• Simulation of Real-World Cyber Incidents: The exercise is meticulously designed to simulate complex, real-world cyber incidents, which may include:
  • Sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure.
  • Deepfake manipulation scenarios.
  • Autonomous malware response scenarios.
  • API (Application Programming Interface) security breaches and their mitigations.
• Immersive Learning Environment: It offers a hands-on learning experience focused on cyber defense and incident response, featuring live-fire simulations that mirror actual attacks on both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems.
• AI Integration: A crucial component of the exercise is equipping participants with practical insights into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, including an AI-integrated cybersecurity framework.
• Key Components: Beyond technical simulations, Bharat NCX 2025 also includes:
  • A Strategic Decision-Making Exercise (STRATEX) for senior leaders to navigate national cyber crisis scenarios.
  • A CISO Conclave bringing together Chief Information Security Officers from government and industry.
  • A Bharat Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition showcasing indigenous cybersecurity innovations.