UNITED NATIONS — India will fully finance the creation of a new United Nations portal focused on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) security, a move designed to boost global cyber resilience and assist developing nations with digital capacity building.

Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, announced the funding commitment during the plenary session of the Global Mechanism on ICTs in the Context of International Security. Originally proposed as an Indian initiative in 2022, the collaborative project has garnered widespread international backing following years of consensus-building and negotiations.

“India is pleased to provide the complete funding required to operationalise the portal as a United Nations platform, enabling meaningful action after years of policy discussions,” Harish said.

The forthcoming platform aims to be a comprehensive resource hub for governments, institutions, and cyber professionals globally. It will offer educational learning materials, training opportunities, an interactive forum for member states, and a global calendar of cyber capacity-building programmes. India’s financial backing will cover the platform’s technical development, deployment, and long-term maintenance, ensuring it operates as a highly practical tool rather than simply a repository of documents.

Technical support for the UN portal will be spearheaded by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). As India’s national cyber incident response agency, CERT-In will design the technical architecture, provide technical consultancy, plan the infrastructure, and oversee testing to guarantee the system operates efficiently, securely, and in accordance with international standards. Officials note that CERT-In’s involvement highlights New Delhi’s rising expertise in neutralizing evolving cyber threats and safeguarding digital frameworks.

Addressing the delegates, Harish emphasized that despite rapid digital transformation, numerous developing nations still struggle to establish adequate cyber security capabilities. He explained that the portal is designed to reduce disparities between developed and developing nations by offering equal access to best practices, expertise, and training resources. The initiative is intended to remain dynamic and continuously updated, ensuring countries can effectively respond to emerging threats rather than relying on outdated guidance.

Showcasing its Digital Public Infrastructure model, India also used the session to highlight its broader vision for inclusive technological growth. Harish noted that the social and economic benefits of digital innovation require formidable cyber security systems to protect citizens, businesses, and governments against increasingly sophisticated attacks. He stressed that capacity-building efforts must remain politically neutral, transparent, demand-driven, and tailored to the specific needs of individual countries.

Reaffirming its dedication to the Global South through technical cooperation and knowledge-sharing, India pointed to the success of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Harish stated that under ITEC, nearly 50,000 professionals from Global South countries have received fully funded training over the past five years. More than 100 leading Indian institutions have delivered around 400 specialised courses covering artificial intelligence, big data analytics, e-governance, digital governance, and cyber security. This scale, Harish noted, proves that massive digital capacity-building can succeed when supported by international collaboration and sustained political commitment.

Additionally, India welcomed the formation of the Dedicated Thematic Group on Cyber Capacity Building under the UN Global Mechanism. This new entity will coordinate international efforts, identify capacity gaps, and promote practical cooperation among member states to enhance cyber resilience across different regions. India views the group’s establishment as proof of the growing recognition that cyber security is an essential pillar of international peace, sustainable development, and digital transformation.

By funding the ICT security portal and supplying CERT-In’s technical expertise, India continues to solidify its expanding role in cyber diplomacy and global digital governance, helping foster a more secure and interconnected international digital ecosystem.