The inaugural session of the SHIELD 2026 conclave on Thursday (February 5, 2026) was marked by the launch of multiple indigenous, technology-driven initiatives aimed at tackling the fast-evolving nature of cybercrime.
Speaking at the opening session held in Hyderabad, Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao said policing had traditionally been rooted in the physical world but had now decisively shifted to the digital domain. “The frontline today is virtual — a phishing attack, a suspicious link,” he said, underlining the urgent need for robust measures to prevent online frauds and scams.
Mr. Rao noted that cybercrimes were no longer limited to the unaware, with even tech-savvy individuals falling victim. “Greed is a common human trait. The nature of crime may change, but the nature of our duty does not. We must continue to protect our citizens,” he said. The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of strong policy alignment, administrative preparedness and cross-departmental coordination to address cybercrime risks that increasingly impact governance, public services and critical infrastructure.
Digital initiatives
As part of the inaugural programme, the Chief Secretary formally launched key digital initiatives developed by the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau. These include ‘1930 Saarthi’, an AI-powered multilingual voice agent deployed for the National Cybercrime Helpline, to provide faster guidance and improved victim assistance; Sentinel, a rule-based Cyber Crime Investigation Tool designed to ensure faster and uniform investigations across the State; and C-Sight, an AI-enabled system for automated processing and management of digital evidence related to Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material.
Robotic dogs, humanoid robots showcased
A major attraction at the conclave is the Technology Experience Zone, which showcased advanced cybersecurity and public safety technologies, including robotic dogs, humanoid robots, flight simulators, drone and counter-drone systems, and AI-driven security solutions, offering hands-on exposure to emerging tools shaping the future of policing and cyber defence.
The conclave brought together law enforcement officers from 20 States, along with senior Central and State government officials, industry leaders, academicians and cybersecurity experts.
Highlighting the Bureau’s progress, TGCSB Director Shikha Goel pointed to the formation of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) as a key milestone. Before the CPU was set up, the Bureau analysed 50,400 tip-offs, resulting in just 37 FIRs and 36 arrests. In the past year alone, after the CPU’s formation, 1,20,563 tip-offs were analysed, leading to 866 cases and 421 arrests.
Ms. Goel also highlighted CipherSprint, a national cyber innovation challenge under the SHIELD ecosystem that focuses on deployable prototypes and proof-of-concept solutions aligned with real-world policing needs. This year, over 550 teams applied, with 17 finalist teams presenting their solutions at the conclave. The selected teams will be given an opportunity to further develop their solutions in collaboration with TGCSB and the IIIT Hyderabad lab, supported by a grant of ₹5 lakh.
Officials said Telangana recorded a 6% drop in cybercrime complaints in 2025 compared to 2024, even as such cases rose by 24% nationally. The State also saw a 23% reduction in financial losses and a significant improvement in investigation turnaround time. Collaboration with Meta, officials added, helped prevent 84 suicides in the past couple of months, underscoring the growing impact of technology-led interventions in public safety.
Published – February 05, 2026 01:25 pm IST
