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LUCKNOW, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
A regional conference-cum-workshop on cybersecurity awareness for power sector professionals was held in Lucknow on Friday, bringing together senior officials, experts, and over 150 delegates from power utilities across the Northern Region.
The event was organized by the Computer Security Incident Response Team – Power (CSIRT-Power) of the Ministry of Power, in association with NTPC Limited, and hosted by NTPC’s Northern Region Headquarters. It formed part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen awareness and resilience against cyber threats in the critical power sector.
Participants included representatives from power utilities of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttarakhand, as well as central PSUs such as NTPC, POWERGRID, NHPC, THDC, SJVNL, PFC, SECI, REC, and private sector stakeholders.
The workshop featured deliberations on emerging cyber challenges, the role of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence in cyber defence, and the need for stronger frameworks to detect, prevent, and mitigate cyber-attacks.
Speaking on the occasion, L. K. S. Rathore, Director (Cyber Security), CSIRT-Power, Ministry of Power, underlined the strategic importance of cybersecurity in the power sector and highlighted the Ministry’s initiatives to strengthen defence mechanisms. He stressed the need for collaboration, continuous training, and adoption of technology-driven solutions to counter sophisticated attacks.
Narendra Bhooshan, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy & Additional Sources of Energy), Government of Uttar Pradesh and Chairman, UPNEDA, reiterated the state’s commitment to securing its energy infrastructure. He urged stakeholders to think “out of the box” in tackling evolving threats and encouraged collaboration with young innovators to develop new solutions.
Dr. Ashish Kumar Goel, Chairman, UPPCL, pointed out that targeted malicious activities against India’s power sector were on the rise and called for greater efforts to secure this critical domain. He emphasized how proactive governance and policy interventions could support technology adoption and cited UPPCL’s ongoing initiatives in cyber preparedness.
Rishika Sharan, Member Secretary, NRPC, stressed the importance of continuous coordination among regional utilities to improve incident response.
Goutam Deb, Regional Executive Director, NTPC, highlighted cybersecurity as an indispensable part of today’s interconnected and digitalized energy ecosystem. He thanked the Ministry of Power for the opportunity to host the workshop.
In his technical presentation, A. K. Patel, GM (IT) & CISO, NTPC, shared NTPC’s cyber defence strategies and incident response frameworks, urging utilities to adopt advanced cybersecurity protocols.
The workshop also featured expert sessions on the roles of CSIRT-Power and CERT-In, incident response practices, forensic analysis, regulatory frameworks, and critical information infrastructure. Technical presentations by specialists from CSIRT-Power, CERT-In, and NCIIPC provided actionable insights and threat detection techniques. Interactive segments, including a cybersecurity quiz, further enriched the knowledge exchange.
In his closing remarks, Ashish Lohiya, Deputy Director, CSIRT-Power, extended gratitude to the Ministry of Power for spearheading this initiative, NTPC Northern Region HQ for hosting, and participants for their active involvement.
The event concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen cybersecurity measures and safeguard India’s vital energy assets from evolving threats.
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