Budget 2025 expectations: How securing India’s digital future can be prioritised this year

The 2025 Budget presents an opportunity to redefine India’s digital future. By prioritising cybersecurity, digital payment security, and technology innovation, the government can strengthen the digital ecosystem.

As India gears up for Budget 2025, the digital landscape stands at a critical juncture. With an increasing reliance on technology across industries, the need for robust cybersecurity measures and seamless digital payment systems has never been greater. Strategic investments in these areas can create a secure digital ecosystem, foster consumer trust, and drive exponential growth in the technology sector. Here’s a closer look at what this year’s budget could prioritise to enhance India’s digital prowess.

Enhancing cybersecurity through strategic allocations

Cybersecurity is the cornerstone of a resilient digital economy. As cyber threats grow in sophistication, the Government must step up its investments: 

• Allocation for digital policing: Establishing and equipping cybercrime cells with advanced forensic tools, AI-driven threat detection systems, and skilled personnel to combat rising cybercrimes like phishing, ransomware, and identity theft.
• Curbing digital arrests: Strengthening protocols and guidelines to prevent wrongful arrests related to cyber activities by focusing on judicial training in cyber laws and promoting ethical enforcement practices. 
• Awareness for vulnerable groups: Rolling out nationwide campaigns to educate the elderly on identifying scams and ensuring their safety online. Digital literacy sessions tailored for senior citizens can help bridge the knowledge gap and foster inclusivity.
• Investing in cybersoldiers: Developing a dedicated force of cybersoldiers trained in advanced cybersecurity techniques to protect national critical infrastructure.
• Protection of the girl child: Introducing measures like AI-based tools to detect and curb the circulation of exploitative content, combined with training programmes for law enforcement to address online harassment more effectively. 

Securing digital payments to foster consumer trust

India’s digital payment systems, including UPI and ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), have transformed the financial ecosystem. To maintain momentum, Budget 2025 could emphasise: 

• Stronger fraud prevention mechanisms: Investments in advanced fraud detection systems, biometrics, and tokenisation to protect consumers from digital payment fraud.
• Promoting rural digital penetration: Allocating funds for expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, including high-speed internet and payment facilitation kiosks, to empower underserved communities.
• Standardising data privacy across platforms: Enforcing stringent privacy laws for payment platforms, ensuring consumer data remains secure and transparent practices are followed. 

Enforcing privacy laws for secure digital ecosystem 

A strong legal framework is essential to building a secure digital environment. The Government can achieve this by: 

• Implementing data protection policies: Accelerating the rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and ensuring businesses comply with international data privacy standards.
• Privacy audits: Allocating funds to conduct regular audits of major tech platforms to identify and address vulnerabilities.
• User-centric approaches: Mandating consent-based data collection and usage policies, enabling consumers to have greater control over their information.

Fostering innovation In technology

To remain competitive in the global digital economy, India must encourage innovation:

• Incentives for startups: Offering tax benefits and grants to startups developing cybersecurity solutions, digital payment technologies, and AI-driven applications.
• Investment in R&D: Allocating funds for research in quantum computing, blockchain, and AI to address emerging threats and opportunities.
• Skill development programmes: Collaborating with academic institutions to introduce specialised courses on cybersecurity, data analytics, and fintech, ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals.

Protecting marginalised communities in the digital era

The budget can make strides toward inclusivity by addressing the needs of vulnerable populations:

• Cyber awareness for Women: Launching programmes to educate women on identifying and reporting online harassment and ensuring their safety in digital spaces.
• Special funds for the girl child: Supporting initiatives that use technology to enhance safety, such as wearable GPS devices and apps that alert authorities in emergencies.
• Accessibility for all: Ensuring digital platforms are accessible to differently-abled individuals by mandating assistive technologies and user-friendly interfaces.

Building digital trust through awareness and transparency

To encourage greater adoption of digital technologies, trust needs to be at the forefront:

• Nationwide cyber awareness campaigns: Educating the public on the importance of cybersecurity through Government-sponsored programmes, workshops, and advertisements.
• Elderly-centric programmes: Designing initiatives specifically for the elderly to address their concerns and challenges in navigating the digital world.
• Public-private partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between the Government and private entities to improve cyber resilience and digital payment security.

The 2025 Budget presents an opportunity to redefine India’s digital future. By prioritising cybersecurity, digital payment security, and technology innovation, the Government can strengthen the digital ecosystem and build a foundation for sustainable growth. Strategic investments in digital policing, privacy enforcement, awareness programmes for vulnerable groups, and the protection of marginalised communities are essential to ensuring that every citizen reaps the benefits of India’s digital transformation.

In an era defined by technological advancements, the role of a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital economy cannot be overstated. With the right focus, the Government can protect citizens, foster trust, and strengthen the digital economy. By emphasising cybersecurity, secure payment systems, and innovation, Budget 2025 can safeguard India’s digital growth and create a more inclusive and secure future.

This article first appeared in ABP Live on 26 January 2025.