Satish Sharma Unveils Vision for a Digitally Empowered and Cyber-Secure Jammu & Kashmir at India Mobile Congress 2025
NEW DELHI: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma today said that Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing a “new digital dawn” where technology is empowering citizens, transforming governance, and securing the digital future of the region.
Speaking at the India Mobile Congress and the Round Table Conference of State IT Ministers, inaugurated by Union Minister for Information Technology Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Minister highlighted that the government’s efforts are focused on building an inclusive, connected, and secure Jammu & Kashmir.
“Digital connectivity today is not a privilege but a necessity. It brings education to a student in Kupwara, healthcare to a patient in Poonch, and new opportunities to an artisan in Anantnag,” Sharma said, underscoring the transformative potential of technology in bridging gaps across the Union Territory.
Elaborating on the progress under the Amended BharatNet Project, the Minister informed that high-speed Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) is being laid to connect 4,299 Gram Panchayats and 2,574 villages. In addition, BSNL will extend Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections to 2,234 government schools and 1,138 public health centres, enabling e-learning and telemedicine services in rural areas.
Sharma further stated that new mobile towers are being set up in remote and border regions to eliminate digital isolation. Preparations are also underway for the 5G rollout in key urban centres, which will drive entrepreneurship, innovation, and smart governance across J&K.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to cyber safety, the Minister said, “As we connect every home, we must also secure every byte of data and every citizen’s trust.” He noted that the Jammu & Kashmir Cyber Security Policy 2022, developed in collaboration with MeitY and MHA, provides a robust framework for cyber resilience.
Highlighting key cyber initiatives from 2024, Sharma shared that the Cyber Police recovered over ₹4.7 crore for victims of online fraud through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, while numerous cases were successfully resolved. The induction of Cyber Commandos has also enhanced the region’s ability to respond to digital threats effectively.
“At present, 183 CISOs and ISOs are ensuring cyber protection across departments, supported by a Cyber Multi-Agency Centre for real-time intelligence sharing. A Security Operations Centre (SOC) is already operational, and a Mini SOC at NIC NOC is being set up in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Minister added. A dedicated committee has also been constituted to facilitate the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, ensuring readiness for next-generation technologies.
He further informed that the government has mandated the exclusive use of official email IDs for all communications, prohibited non-government email for official work, and disabled unauthorized USB access. Measures such as the promotion of GOV Drive for secure data storage and the implementation of advanced web security protocols have also been enforced.
“Connectivity and cybersecurity together define the digital future of Jammu & Kashmir,” Sharma asserted. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the government is committed to making every connection meaningful, every transaction trustworthy, and every citizen empowered. Jammu & Kashmir is not just going digital—it is becoming digitally secure and globally competitive.”
The Minister also expressed gratitude to MeitY, MHA, BSNL, JAKEGA, and NIC for their continued partnership in realizing the vision of a digitally empowered and cyber-resilient Jammu & Kashmir.
