Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, urged collective action and the development of indigenous cybersecurity solutions to combat the surge in cyber threats during the Cyber Cop 2025 Awards held on September 11, 2025, in Hyderabad. Speaking at the Central Detective Training Institute, Ramanthapur, he emphasized that cybersecurity is an integral component of national security amid India’s ongoing digital revolution. The Minister highlighted the significance of hackathons, which bring together startups, professionals, and students to innovate against challenges like cryptocurrency misuse, deepfake videos, fake websites, and malicious mobile applications. He underscored the role of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Blockchain analytics in strengthening India’s cyber defenses. Bandi Sanjay also referenced government initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and CERT-In’s guidelines on deepfake threats. Congratulating all participants, he framed the event as a step towards building a safer and more powerful India through technological self-reliance and collaborative innovation. The event was jointly organized by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, and the Indian School of Business.