The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), hosted the National Conference on Making Cities Cyber Secure on 18 July 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event underscored the urgent need for cybersecurity integration in urban infrastructure and highlighted the evolving role of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in shaping future-ready cities.
The conference brought together more than 300 delegates, including senior officials from State IT Departments, Urban Development Departments, and Municipal Corporations, as well as representatives from national cybersecurity bodies such as CERT-In, NCIIPC, I4C, and STQC. Prominent speakers included Shri Srinivas Katikithala (Secretary, MoHUA), Shri Govind Mohan (Union Home Secretary), and Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar (CEO, UIDAI).
Cybersecurity at the Heart of Urban Governance
With the increasing digitalisation of urban services—from smart traffic systems to e-governance platforms—the conference focused on the vulnerabilities cities face in the cyberspace. Officials emphasised that cities must adopt structured risk assessment mechanisms, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and implement strong data protection protocols.
MoHUA showcased several strategic initiatives, including:
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City-level cybersecurity frameworks tailored to urban infrastructure
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Mandatory appointment of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) across all Smart Cities
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Completion of periodic cybersecurity audits to identify and address risks proactively
These efforts are part of a broader push to embed cybersecurity into every stage of urban digital transformation, ensuring continuity of public services and the safety of citizen data.
Reinventing SPVs for Urban Resilience
The conference also placed significant emphasis on the evolving role of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Drawing from Advisory No. 27 (June 2025), stakeholders discussed transforming SPVs into dynamic, innovation-driven organisations capable of delivering consultancy, policy research, technology integration, and investment facilitation services beyond their original mandates.
Participants agreed that empowering SPVs will be essential for:
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Sustaining long-term urban development initiatives
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Enabling cross-sector collaboration
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Driving smart governance and data-driven decision-making
Key Takeaways
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Cybersecurity must be integral to all city-level planning, especially as digital technologies expand into critical public domains.
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SPVs must evolve from project execution units to urban innovation engines.
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National cybersecurity agencies and urban local bodies must coordinate for rapid incident response and capacity building.
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Ongoing cybersecurity audits and dedicated CISOs will be essential to safeguard digital assets in urban ecosystems.
The conference concluded with a consensus to institutionalise cybersecurity in urban planning and strengthen urban digital infrastructure for enhanced service delivery, resilience, and public trust.
