'Cyber protection' should be a career option for the country's youth: Modi

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Thursday said that 'cyber protection' should be a career option for the country's youth.

Speaking on the Global Conference on Cyber Space here, Modi said: "One of the major focus areas should be the training of well-equipped and capable professionals to counter cyber threats. Cyber warriors will remain on the alert against cyber attacks. The term 'hacking' may have acquired an exciting, even if dubious overtone. We need to ensure that cyber protection becomes an attractive and viable career option for the youth."

He said nations must also take responsibility to ensure that the digital space does not become a playground for the dark forces of terrorism and radicalisation. Information sharing and coordination among security agencies are essential to counter the ever-changing threat landscape.

Today, digital technology has emerged as a great enabler. It has paved the way for efficient service delivery and governance. It is improving access in domains from education to health. And, it is helping to shape the future of business and economy, he said.

"Through each of these ways, it provides the less privileged sections of society, a more level-playing field. On a macro-scale, it has contributed to emergence of a flat world, where a developing nation like India can compete on a level footing with developed nations, the Prime Minister said.

Taking some instances, he said today a small entrepreneur can register on the government e-Marketplace, and bid competitively for supply of goods to the government. As he expands his business, he also contributes to lowering the cost of procurement for the government. This leads to increased efficiency, and greater value for public money.

"Pensioners no longer need to present themselves in front of a bank officer, to provide proof of life. Today, a pensioner can leverage the Aadhaar biometric platform, to provide this proof with minimal physical effort," Modi said, adding that women form a significant part of the IT workforce.

Digital technology has facilitated several new enterprises led by women. In this way the IT sector has contributed towards gender empowerment.

"Citizens of India are increasingly adopting cashless transactions. For this, we created the Bharat Interface for Money – or BHIM App. This app is helping the movement towards a less cash and corruption free society," Modi added.

Meanwhile, Modi launched Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG) application at the event, which has integrated government services like provident fund (PF) details and National Pension System