The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) today launched ‘Be Cyber Street Smart’, its nationwide cyber security awareness campaign for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026. The month-long campaign was inaugurated at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) by Ashish Shelar, Minister for Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra, in the presence of senior representatives from BSE, SEBI, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Maharashtra Cyber department.
Marking the launch, dignitaries participated in BSE’s iconic ‘Ring the Bell’ ceremony, symbolising a shared commitment by government and industry towards a safer digital ecosystem. The event also featured the launch of the campaign’s Cyber Anthem.
Supported by government bodies including CERT-In, I4C under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of Maharashtra, the campaign brings together industry partners including 63SATS, Axis Bank, Chitkara University, CRED, HDFC Bank, IIFL Finance, Lloyds Technology Centre, PayPal, Protectt.ai, Punjab National Bank, QRC Assurance, QuilrAI, SQ1 Security, Target, Thales, Veeam and ZS Associates, along with BSE and BSECCL.
The 2026 campaign reimagines Kathputli, India’s traditional string-puppet storytelling art, for the digital age. Using familiar, culturally rooted storytelling, ‘Be Cyber Street Smart’ aims to make cyber safety simple, relatable and easy to remember and share.
Throughout October, the campaign will focus on practical cyber safety habits across mobile apps, email, social media and digital payments, while raising awareness of emerging threats including malicious APK fraud, AI-powered voice-cloning scams, real-time deepfakes, digital arrest scams and other AI-enabled cyber frauds.
Campaign content will be delivered through a range of accessible and shareable formats, including Screensavers Manch, Poster Chaupal, scam-decoding infographics, Cyber Kathas, stickers and Cyber Pathshala ki Kitaab, among others.