realme has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) to introduce the realme DigiShield India Program.
Jointly implemented by both organizations, the initiative aims to tackle the increasing challenges of cybercrime in India through citizen awareness, structured skilling, and capacity building for law enforcement agencies.
Program Framework and Objectives
The DigiShield India Program utilizes a multi-layered framework designed to promote digital safety and address institutional gaps in cybercrime response. Key components of the initiative include:
- Citizen Sensitization: Large-scale awareness sessions targeting the general public to educate them on digital safety.
- Law Enforcement Training: Specialized workshops and technical training modules designed specifically for police personnel.
- DigiShield Certification Program: A structured course intended to provide participants with practical, applicable digital safety knowledge.
- Cyber Safety Ambassador Program: An initiative to identify and train local individuals who can advocate for and amplify digital safety practices within their respective communities.
- Digital Outreach: Widespread online campaigns to drive mass awareness across various platforms.
Target Reach and Demographics
Through this collaboration, realme and IIIT-Delhi plan to provide digital safety training and certification to up to 10,000 citizens across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, the program intends to equip up to 1,000 police officers in these regions with targeted knowledge regarding cybercrime prevention and response protocols. The initiative will also attempt to reach the broader public through sustained digital outreach efforts.
The Growing Cybersecurity Context
The launch of the program occurs against the backdrop of India’s rapid digital transformation, characterized by the widespread adoption of smartphones, UPI payments, digital wallets, and app-based services.
While this shift has increased participation in the digital economy, it has also corresponded with a significant rise in digital vulnerabilities and cyber threats. Common challenges the program aims to address include:
- Fraudulent loan and gambling applications
- Malware and fake app installations
- UPI and OTP-related financial fraud
- SIM swap scams
- Identity theft and account takeovers
The DigiShield India Program seeks to mitigate these risks by enhancing institutional capacity and providing citizens with the necessary information to navigate the digital landscape securely. The partnership operates as part of realme’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, aligning with broader national objectives surrounding the Digital India framework.
Speaking on the collaboration, Francis Wong, CMO, realme India, said:
India’s digital growth story is one of the most powerful in the world, but it is also accompanied by a sharp rise in cyber risks that cannot be overlooked. At realme, we believe that safety must evolve in parallel with access as digital adoption deepens across the country. Through the DigiShield India Program, in collaboration with Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, we are working to bridge this gap by empowering citizens with critical awareness and skills.
Dr. Arani Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor and Dean of Communication & Alumni Affairs said:
Cybercrime is evolving faster and in newer ways than awareness. The realme DigiShield India Program represents a critical step towards building digital resilience across India by bridging this critical gap by creating a sustainable ecosystem of sensitized citizens and empowered law enforcement. Through this partnership with Realme, IIIT-Delhi plans to empower around 10,000 citizens of different age groups and 1,000 law enforcement officers across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh with digital safety awareness and knowledge. This initiative exemplifies how academia, industry, and government can collaborate to address pressing cyber safety challenges facing Indian citizens.