PIB Summary- 31th August, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy”

Why in News?

• CERT-In hosts Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy” for 13 countries as part of International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience Working Group.
• Exercise “Synergy” aims to exchange best practices among Member-States to build network resiliency against ransomware & cyber extortion attacks.
• Exercise is conducted in collaboration with Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.
• Theme: “Building Network Resiliency to counter Ransomware Attacks”.
• The exercise scenario was derived from real life cyber incidents, in which a domestic level (limited impact) ransomware incident escalates to a global cyber security crisis. 
• The specific objective of the exercise was to Assess, Share and Improve strategies and practices among Member-States to build network resiliency against ransomware & cyber extortion attacks.
• Exercise “Synergy” was successful in meeting its objectives and provided insights for better coordination & cooperation among CRI Member States to build network resiliency and counter ransomware attacks.

About CERT- In

• CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur.
• The constituency of CERT-In is the Indian Cyber Community.
• CERT-In was established in 2004 as a functional organization of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Functions of CERT-In

• The Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008 designated CERT-In to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:
• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
• Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents
• Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents
• Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
• Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information
• security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.
• Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed.

Portal for “Ease of Living” of Pensioners  

Why in News?

• Integrated Pensioners’ Portal for “Ease of Living” of Pensioners to be developed by Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare.
• The Portal links the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare portal Bhavishya and Pension Portals of various Banks, creation of Chat bot to ensure seamless interaction between pensioners, Government and banker.
• The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has started a series of Awareness Programs for Central Pension Processing Centres and field functionaries handling pension related work in the bank.
• The objective of these programs is to spread awareness of the various rules and procedures regarding disbursement of pension to Central Government pensioner.
• It also updates the field functionaries about the changes that take place from time to time through various amendments in the policy and procedures.
• The purpose of the program is also to understand issues faced by Bank officials in handling these processes and pensioners’ grievances.
• These awareness programs would serve as a huge capacity building exercise for bank officials.