NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence launched to boost India’s cyber defence ecosystem

Jalandhar:
NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence has been officially launched by Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s cyber defence preparedness and digital skills ecosystem at a time when cyber threats are growing rapidly in scale, sophistication and impact.

The Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established with support from the Ministry of Minority Affairs under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). The initiative aims to provide advanced and industry-aligned cybersecurity training not only to NIT Jalandhar students but also to school students, college learners, research scholars and working professionals.

Why the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence matters

India is witnessing an unprecedented rise in cyberattacks targeting government systems, financial institutions, healthcare networks and critical digital infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence is designed to address the acute shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals in the country.

According to institute officials, the CoE will play a vital role in:

Building a pipeline of industry-ready cybersecurity experts

Enhancing national cyber resilience

Supporting India’s broader Digital India vision

The centre seeks to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world cyber threat response.

Inclusive vision behind NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

A key highlight of the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence is its strong focus on inclusive education. The CoE plans to train nearly 4,000 learners, with a special emphasis on ensuring access for underrepresented and minority communities.

 Focus on minority participation

Out of the total targeted trainees:

Around 2,000 students will be from minority communities

Learners will include students from economically weaker backgrounds

Training will extend beyond campus boundaries

This approach aligns with the objectives of the PMJVK scheme, which aims to promote equitable development and skill-building opportunities across communities.

Director’s vision for NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

Speaking on the initiative, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanujia, Director of NIT Jalandhar, underscored the strategic importance of cybersecurity for the nation.

“Cybersecurity has become a critical national priority. Through this Centre of Excellence, NIT Jalandhar aims to develop skilled human resources, promote applied research and contribute meaningfully to securing India’s digital infrastructure, while ensuring inclusive access to advanced technical education,” he said.

His statement reflects the institute’s commitment to combining technical excellence with social responsibility.

Advanced training infrastructure at NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

Institute officials revealed that the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence has been conceptualised as a comprehensive hub for training, research, innovation and consultancy.

State-of-the-art facilities

The centre is equipped with:

High-performance computing servers

Integrated cybersecurity operations platforms

Advanced cyber academic learning modules

High-end client workstations

Real-world cyber range environments

Traffic generation simulators for attack-response training

These facilities will allow learners to gain hands-on experience in detecting, analysing and responding to live cyber threats.

How NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence will train learners

The training programmes offered by the centre are expected to be multi-tiered and modular, catering to different learner groups.

Target learner segments

School students interested in cybersecurity basics

Undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students

Research scholars focusing on cyber defence technologies

Working professionals seeking upskilling or reskilling

The curriculum will focus on both theoretical foundations and practical, scenario-based learning.

Research and innovation focus of NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

Beyond training, the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence will actively promote applied research in emerging areas such as:

Cyber threat intelligence

Network security and forensics

Secure software systems

Digital privacy and data protection

The centre is also expected to collaborate with industry partners, government agencies and research organisations to develop real-world cybersecurity solutions.

Addressing India’s cybersecurity skill gap

India’s rapid digitalisation has significantly increased demand for cybersecurity professionals. However, experts estimate a large skill deficit in the sector.

The NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence aims to:

Create job-ready professionals

Improve employability in the cybersecurity domain

Support startups and innovation-led enterprises

By focusing on practical exposure and industry relevance, the centre seeks to make learners immediately deployable in high-risk cyber environments.

National significance of NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

The launch of the centre positions NIT Jalandhar as a key contributor to India’s cybersecurity ecosystem. It also reinforces the role of premier technical institutions in safeguarding the nation’s digital future.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, initiatives like the NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence are expected to play a crucial role in:

Strengthening digital trust

Protecting critical infrastructure

Enhancing national security

Future roadmap of NIT Jalandhar cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

Institute sources indicated that the centre plans to expand its activities over time by:

Introducing specialised certification programmes

Hosting national and international cybersecurity workshops

Offering consultancy services to government and industry

With its strong infrastructure, inclusive vision and national focus, the centre is poised to become a flagship cybersecurity hub in North India.