NPCI & IDRBT Join Forces to Strengthen Cyber Security in Digital Payments

In a significant development aimed at bolstering India’s digital payments infrastructure, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 12, 2025. This strategic collaboration seeks to advance cybersecurity, resilience, and digital preparedness in the banking and financial services sector through training, certification, and threat intelligence sharing.

Why in News?

The MoU comes at a time when India’s digital payment ecosystem is growing rapidly, accompanied by increased cyber threats. With more citizens and institutions adopting electronic payments, this partnership focuses on building a secure, resilient, and skilled workforce to counter emerging threats. The collaboration also introduces an NPCI-certified security programme and offers access to IDRBT’s upgraded threat intelligence platform, सचेत (IBCART 3.0).

Key Objectives of the MoU

• Strengthen cyber resilience in India’s retail and digital payments sector.
• Launch specialized training programs for professionals in cybersecurity and data privacy.
• Introduce a certification programme aligned with industry needs and regulatory standards.
• Provide access to सचेत (IBCART 3.0), enhancing threat intelligence for NPCI and partners.

Highlights of the Agreement

• Joint training initiatives for banking and digital payment professionals.
• Capability-building across rural and urban ecosystems through structured modules.
• Development of cyber awareness and proactive risk mitigation culture.

About NPCI:

• Apex body for retail payment systems in India, established by RBI and IBA.
• Responsible for innovations like UPI, IMPS, RuPay, AePS, NACH, and e-RUPI.
• Operates through subsidiaries like NIPL, NBBL, and NBSL.
• Plays a pivotal role in financial inclusion and digital infrastructure building.

About IDRBT

• Autonomous institute set up by RBI in 1996 for R&D in banking technology.
• Developed foundational banking tech like INFINET, SFMS, and National Financial Switch.
• Provides cyber threat intelligence via the revamped सचेत (IBCART 3.0) platform.
• Operates CISO, CIO, and CAO forums to guide tech evolution in Indian banks.

Overall Significance

• This collaboration is a milestone in India’s digital public infrastructure, reinforcing the commitment to secure financial ecosystems. It empowers the sector with skilled manpower, certified frameworks, and advanced cyber-intelligence tools—an essential move in light of growing cybercrime incidents.