Slug: RRU Convocation
Ahmedabad: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday emphasised the need for a tech-savvy force to protect India’s digital infrastructure, such as banks and stock markets, amid the growing misuse of technology to disrupt these systems. She was speaking at the fourth convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Lavad near Gandhinagar on Monday, where she was the chief guest.
Sitharaman said that technology is being misused by some vested interests or dark forces and noted that India’s growth may not go down well with some people. She added that students passing out from the university will play an important role in strengthening the country’s internal security, which includes protecting digital public infrastructure.
“For a large country like India, security is not just about taking care of us at the borders. Today, technology doesn’t wait to recognise borders. Technology, as much as it is available for us to increase productivity, is also being misused by some vested interests or dark forces,” she said.
“So, more the digital presence in our lives, which makes our economic condition better, there will be people who will target them. Hence, we also need forces within the country who are tech-savvy and conscious of the threats before us to protect our digital infrastructure,” added the finance minister.
Sitharaman also stressed the fact that India, once one of the biggest importers of defence components, is now exporting them. “Earlier, we were one of the biggest importers. And today, when you have exports from India, whether Brahmos or smaller components, India is becoming the hub for defence production. That is the central govt’s big policy achievement under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Sitharaman said.
She added that India is among the top 25 arms exporters with over 100 companies exporting products such as Brahmos missiles, Pinaka rocket systems, and Dornier aircraft.
A total of 447 students graduated from the university, including three PhDs and 11 officers from the Indian Navy.
Kanubhai Desai, the state minister of finance, energy, and petrochemicals, was the guest of honour at the event.