The IdentityShield Summit 2026, focused on AI-powered identity security, concluded in Pune after two days of discussions on January 16–17. The event brought together cybersecurity practitioners, policymakers, defence officials, technology leaders and innovators to examine evolving identity-led security requirements in an increasingly AI-driven threat landscape.
The agenda covered a range of themes, including Zero Trust frameworks, Identity and Access Management (IAM), digital trust architectures, AI-enabled cyber threats, post-quantum cryptography and operational approaches to building resilient cyber defence models.
Emphasis on sovereignty and domestic capability building
A recurring theme across sessions was the need to strengthen India’s domestic cybersecurity ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign solutions, particularly for strategic and sensitive environments.
Anirban Mukherjee, founder and CEO of miniOrange, said India needs to evolve from being primarily a service provider to becoming a cybersecurity product producer. He also highlighted the scale of the national talent requirement, calling for a “Cybersena” movement to address a shortage of nearly two million cybersecurity professionals.
Maj Gen Krishnendu Kumar Chakrabarti, Chief Signal Officer, Southern Command, underscored the importance of indigenous cybersecurity capabilities to strengthen autonomy. Referring to progress in long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), he called for start-ups and public sector undertakings to contribute to quantum-secure communications development while also addressing the broader cybersecurity talent gap.
Cyber threats, fraud and information warfare
Speakers also discussed the changing nature of cyber risks affecting democratic institutions, public trust and financial systems.
Brijesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra, noted that cyber threats to democracy are expected to intensify over the next 10 to 20 years, with information warfare emerging as a major national security challenge. He said modern defence increasingly includes protection of digital infrastructure, financial systems, corporate networks and public confidence.
Pravin Swami, Head of Cyber Cell, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), said that investment-related frauds are rising rapidly, displacing traditional OTP and lottery scams. He noted that Maharashtra Police has recovered and returned nearly ₹24 crore to victims and highlighted the role of mule accounts in enabling such crimes.
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament from Telangana, called for a coordinated national response involving banks, telecom operators and the media to address threats such as UPI frauds and phishing scams. Referring to initiatives under the Ministry of Home Affairs, he highlighted the importance of scaling skilled cyber personnel and public awareness to strengthen national cyber readiness.
Post-quantum cryptography readiness
In a dedicated session on migration to post-quantum cryptography, Commander Vivek Yadav, Director (Cybersecurity and Quantum), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said that existing algorithms may continue to provide acceptable resilience for a limited period but emphasised that post-quantum cryptographic standards must continue to mature through evaluation and real-world testing.
Scale of participation
The event drew over 5,000 participants and more than 75 cybersecurity experts from India and international markets, making it one of the larger gatherings in the country focused specifically on identity-centric security.
Across keynotes, panel discussions, roundtables and interactive sessions, the summit emphasised practitioner-led frameworks and cross-sector collaboration, positioning identity security as a foundational layer for national digital trust.