India’s expanding focus on artificial intelligence (AI) — from boosting enterprise innovation to powering digital public infrastructure — has made cybersecurity a central pillar of national AI strategy rather than an afterthought. The government and security leaders emphasize that as AI systems become more widespread, they introduce both powerful defensive capabilities and fresh vulnerabilities that must be managed proactively. ([turn0news0])
A core reason cybersecurity is so critical is that AI tools are now deeply embedded in threat detection and defence systems. Machine learning and advanced analytics help security teams process massive volumes of threat data in real time, detect anomalies, correlate threat indicators across sectors, and anticipate coordinated cyberattacks before they materialize. This integration fosters anticipatory security — identifying risks early rather than reacting only after breaches occur — and is shaping how India secures its digital public infrastructure and critical systems. ([turn0news0])
At the same time, AI technologies themselves introduce new types of risks. Sophisticated adversarial attacks, voice and video deepfakes, automated phishing and ransomware campaigns, and other AI-augmented threats have grown rapidly, creating a landscape where attackers can operate at machine speed. Reports show that Indian enterprises face increasing AI-driven threats and many organisations still lack mature defenses against these evolving risks, making robust cybersecurity capabilities essential to sustained AI adoption.
For Indian policymakers, this dual role of AI — as both a defensive tool and a target for exploitation — means that cybersecurity is inseparable from trust, innovation, and governance. Strengthening AI-enabled security measures, institutional coordination across government, industry, and academia, and public awareness campaigns are seen as vital to ensuring that India’s rapid digital transformation remains resilient, trustworthy, and sovereign in the face of emerging cyber threats.
