‘Will empower youth’: Officials on cyber security courses in Haryana

For students from Scheduled Castes and Economically Weaker Sections, the course will be offered free of cost, Prabhjot said.

He said people are witnessing frequent digital arrests with an increase in cyber frauds and cybercrime cases. “In such circumstances, police and other law enforcement agencies need trained cyber experts. These courses will empower young people to become self‑reliant, whether by starting their own ventures or securing jobs in private companies,” the 2010‑batch IAS officer.

Prabhjot also said the state has come up with the course to help people who are “not tech-savvy, rarely use laptops or computers and who have limited knowledge of information technology”.

Singh, who is also a former scientist of ISRO, also said the course will teach students to be cautious while browsing websites or making online transactions. It will also help them learn ways to respond to suspicious links and achieve economic self‑sufficiency, he said. “Students will gain knowledge of cyber threats, cyber laws, ethical hacking and incident response.”

The urgency of such measures is underscored by Haryana’s cybercrime statistics. In 2025, the state recorded 1,41,685 cybercrime complaints, an 8.5 per cent rise over 2024.

The FIR registrations also increased by 12.7 per cent in a year — with 6,212 cases filed in 2025. Proactive action by police also rose sharply, with 356 suo motu cases registered — a 62.6 per cent increase. With 8,022 cybercriminals apprehended — averaging 22 arrests per day — the arrests reached historic levels.

Director General of Police Ajay Singhal said the fight against cybercrime will advance through technology, intelligence and citizen‑focused policing. “The achievements of 2025 reflect the strong institutional foundation of the Haryana Police. In 2026, our focus will be on artificial intelligence, data analytics, real‑time banking coordination and intelligence‑led operations to dismantle cybercrime networks at their roots.”

He clarified, “Prevention, immediate blocking of defrauded money, and swift relief to citizens will be central. We are confident Haryana will emerge as a model state for cyber security and cyber policing at the national level.”