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15 Jul 2025
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.
Hacker: Why does cybersecurity education matter in smaller towns and rural areas in India?
Godse: As digital penetration deepens across rural and semi-urban regions, these areas are increasingly becoming targets of cyber threats due to a lack of awareness and preparedness. Cyber defense is a national effort rather than one concentrated in metropolitan centers alone.
Equipping youth in these cities with cybersecurity skills not only safeguards local communities and businesses but also taps into a vast, underutilized talent pool. It helps to bridge the digital divide, creates employment opportunities and supports India’s vision of becoming a global cybersecurity hub.
India’s Union Minister Piyush Goyal (center) inaugurates the Advanced Cyber Skill Centre in Mumbai with officials from DSCI and Kyndryl.
Vinayak Godse, CEO of DSCI (center), with the beneficiaries of the CyberVaahini program.
Hacker: What are the biggest barriers to cybersecurity education at the grassroots level?
Godse: India’s rural and underserved regions grapple with a lack of infrastructure and digital access. Many schools and colleges in these areas struggle with unreliable internet connectivity and limited access to modern technology, which hinders effective learning. There is a significant shortage of trained faculty who can teach cybersecurity with practical, real-world applications.
Language barriers and low digital literacy further compound the problem, making it difficult for students to engage with technical content. Socioeconomic factors also play a role, as students from financially-challenged backgrounds may prioritize immediate income over long-term skill development. Lastly, limited awareness among communities about cybersecurity’s importance and career potential often results in low interest and enrollment in related courses.
Hacker: How has working with the Kyndryl Foundation helped you grow the CyberVaahini program and reach more people?
Godse: The CyberVaahini program, in partnership with Kyndryl Foundation, has significantly expanded the scope of skilling students in cybersecurity and preparing them to step into the workforce. By focusing on women, the program is taking a step toward bridging the prevalent gender gap in the country. For the first time, we’ve been able to train women in remote locations within Kolkata, Pune and Mohali. This collaboration has been instrumental in empowering young girls with the critical knowledge and focused curriculum they need to see themselves thriving in cybersecurity careers.
We hope these young women will be agents of change in their communities as they propagate the need for digital safety, cyber hygiene and responsible internet use, and that they inspire more young people to sign up for the program in the coming years.
CyberVaahini changed how I saw myself. It gave me not just skills — but confidence, clarity and courage.
Jagruti Kulkarni | CyberVaahini beneficiary
What made the biggest difference was the hands-on training. Slowly, I began to see myself not just as a student, but as a future cybersecurity professional.
Tanuja Padmane | CyberVaahini beneficiary
Hacker: How should cybersecurity training adapt to evolving threats?
Godse: Traditional training models focusing solely on foundational knowledge aren’t enough. With emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks upon us, they need to be more agile with an emphasis on continuous learning, real-time threat simulation, and hands-on experience with the latest tools and techniques. Integration of threat intelligence, ethical hacking, secure coding and incident response must become core components. Cross-disciplinary skills — such as understanding regulatory frameworks, AI ethics and digital forensics — will become increasingly essential.
Ultimately, personalized, modular learning paths, remote labs and industry partnerships can help ensure that professionals stay updated, resilient and ready to respond to complex, evolving cyber threats.
Hacker: What lasting changes has CyberVaahini brought to communities, especially regarding digital safety and awareness?
Godse: CyberVaahini has led to communities seeing long-term transformations, particularly in digital safety awareness and responsible online behavior. Our alums have built successful cybersecurity careers with the skills they have developed in the program. More importantly, they have become peer educators and change agents. They are confidently driving a key shift toward a culture of cyber vigilance among students, parents and educators based on a nuanced understanding of threats like phishing, cyberbullying and identity theft.
The program has fostered stronger community dialogue around online ethics, data privacy and the importance of reporting cyber incidents. Over time, these empowered communities have shown increased resilience to cyber risks, laying the foundation for a more informed and secure digital ecosystem at the grassroots level.
Kyndryl Foundation grants drive cybersecurity education and community impact.
