States Yet To Set Up Cyber Crime Centres Get Fresh MHA Push As Online Frauds Rise

Published 11 June 2026 · tech

States Yet To Set Up Cyber Crime Centres Get Fresh MHA Push As Online Frauds Rise Reported By, Last Updated: June 11, 2026, 10:14 IST

States Yet To Set Up Cyber Crime Centres Get Fresh MHA Push As Online Frauds Rise Reported By, Last Updated: June 11, 2026, 10:14 IST According to the ministry, the centres will serve as state-level nodal agencies to coordinate efforts towards the prevention, detection, and prosecution of cybercrime Rapid Read Cybercrimes such as digital arrests, online frauds and identity theft have become common in India. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked states and Union Territories that have not yet established or operationalised State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres (S4Cs) to take necessary action for setting up the state-level mechanism aimed at strengthening the response to cybercrime. A communication issued by the ministry said the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), established in 2018, was created to strengthen the country’s capability to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

“Since its inception, I4C has played an instrumental role in cybercrime mitigation. However, the increasing incidence, complexity, and transnational nature of cybercrimes, particularly cyber financial frauds, online scams, digital arrest frauds, identity theft, and other technology-enabled offences, necessitate a larger coordinated and institutionalized response mechanism," the ministry wrote. The MHA said it has prepared a concept note for the establishment, strengthening and operationalisation of State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres (S4Cs) in states and UTs. According to the ministry, the centres will serve as state-level nodal agencies to coordinate efforts towards the prevention, detection, and prosecution of cybercrime. The ministry noted that the need for a dedicated state-level cybercrime coordination mechanism has been emphasised on several occasions, including through a communication from the Union Home Minister in 2019, recommendations of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, and a Supreme Court order dated December 1, 2025, concerning digital arrest frauds.

According to the letter, the court order highlighted the need for coordinated, swift, timely and effective action through close coordination between I4C and S4Cs. Referring to progress made by some jurisdictions, the MHA said, “Some of the States/UTs have made progress in this direction and established State level units which has resulted in better coordination and effective mechanism against cybercrime." The ministry added, “Therefore, remaining States and Union Territories are again requested to take necessary action for the establishment/strengthening and operationalisation of State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres (S4Cs) in their respective jurisdictions." The MHA said I4C would provide necessary assistance to states and UTs for the establishment and operationalisation of the S4Cs. It also requested states and UTs to communicate the name, designation, and contact details of the head of the cybercrime unit, or another nominated officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), to I4C and the ministry.