NIELIT’s 2nd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics & Intelligence (NCCDFI 2025) Inaugurated

 
Guwahati, November 19: The 2nd Edition of the National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics & Intelligence (NCCDFI 2025) was inaugurated today at the B.K.B. Auditorium, Gauhati University, Guwahati. The two-day event is being organised by NIELIT Assam & Nagaland under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in association with Assam Police and Gauhati University, and supported by the Department of IT, Government of Assam and The United Service Institution of India. The conference is being held under the theme “Cyber Secure Bharat: Fortifying India’s Digital Future.”

As a premier institution under MeitY, the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s digital ecosystem through skilling, cybersecurity capacity building, digital forensics, emerging technologies, and technical education. With 56 Centres nationwide—including 22 in the North-East—and over 700 affiliated institutes, NIELIT leads national initiatives in digital skilling, government cybersecurity support, and advanced technology education through its Digital University Platform. Recently conferred Deemed-to-be University status, NIELIT now offers a seamless learning continuum from foundational skilling to Ph.D.-level research, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

NCCDFI was initially conceptualised and launched at NIELIT Kohima, and based on its success and growing relevance, the second edition has now been expanded to Guwahati to ensure wider participation from across the North-East and beyond.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by L. Lanuwabang, Director, NIELIT Assam & Nagaland, MeitY, Government of India; K.S. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary, IT, Government of Assam; Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University; Surendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, Assam; Keshri Kumar Asthana, CTO & Head – Public Sector, Microsoft; and Sandesh Jadhav, Global Data Privacy Officer, Wipro.

Delivering the Welcome Address, L. Lanuwabang, Director NIELIT Assam & Nagaland and Conference Chair, highlighted the expansion of NCCDFI from Kohima to Guwahati to ensure wider participation across the North-East. He emphasised the need for advanced cyber training, digital forensic laboratory infrastructure, coordinated cyber investigations, and multi-agency collaboration to safeguard the digital future of the region.

He remarked, “Cyber Secure Bharat is not merely a theme; it is a national mission. A secure India is the foundation of a strong digital future. This conference brings together global organisations, academia, law enforcement, defence, government administration and industry to address cybercrime, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging threats, and to build greater cybersecurity awareness among citizens.”

Keshri Kumar Asthana, CTO, Microsoft Public Sector, shared that India witnessed over 1.3 million cyber incidents last year, nearly double the number of police cases, underscoring the urgent need for indigenous cybersecurity solutions and strengthened national cyber capabilities. Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University, highlighted the University’s partnership with NIELIT to introduce academic programmes in AI, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime Investigation, and Semiconductor Technology, enabling students from the North-East to acquire future-ready skills.

A major highlight of NCCDFI 2025 is the Cyber Security & Digital Forensics Exhibition, showcasing cutting-edge solutions from leading national and international technology providers. The exhibition features advanced investigative tools, forensic hardware, AI-enabled cybersecurity platforms, mobile forensics systems, deepfake detection technologies, ransomware analysis solutions, and end-to-end digital evidence management suites. Global OEMs and Indian cybersecurity firms are demonstrating technologies used by law enforcement, defence forces, intelligence agencies, and forensic laboratories worldwide, offering delegates hands-on experience with the latest innovations shaping the future of digital investigations.

This year’s conference features 30+ distinguished speakers from industry, defence, law enforcement, academia, and global technology organisations. Over 300 delegates from government departments, police organisations, the judiciary, academic institutions, industry, and organisation reflecting the region’s growing focus on cybersecurity and digital resilience.

The inaugural programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Shri Santanu Borgohain, Additional Director, NIELIT Guwahati. The second day of the conference will continue with technical sessions, panel discussions, OEM presentations, and expert talks on emerging threats, cybercrime trends, digital investigation methodologies, and national cyber resilience.