DSCI launches 'Be Cyber Street Smart' Campaign at BSE for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026

Using the traditional Kathputli puppet-storytelling art, the Data Security Council of India's month-long campaign aims to teach citizens safe digital habits and guard against APK frauds, deepfakes, voice-cloning scams and "digital arrest" cons.

The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has launched 'Be Cyber Street Smart', its nationwide cyber security awareness campaign for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026, observed globally in October. The campaign was formally unveiled at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) by Ashish Shelar, Minister for Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra. Senior leaders from BSE, SEBI, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Maharashtra Cyber department were present.

'Ring the Bell' ceremony and partners

To mark the launch, the dignitaries took part in the BSE's traditional 'Ring the Bell' ceremony, signalling a shared commitment by government and industry to a safer cyberspace. The event also saw the release of the campaign's Cyber Anthem.

The initiative is supported by government bodies including CERT-In, I4C under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Maharashtra Government. Industry partners include 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.

Kathputli storytelling for the digital age

This year's campaign reimagines Kathputli, India's traditional string-puppet art, for the digital era. Just as Kathputlis have carried folk wisdom across generations, the campaign uses culturally rooted storytelling to make cyber safety easy to understand, remember and share.

Through October, it will help citizens build safe habits around mobile app safety, email security, social media safety and digital payments. It also addresses the fraud types affecting Indians most today, including malicious APK frauds, AI voice-cloning emergency scams, real-time deepfakes, new-age "digital arrest" scams and other AI-powered threats.

Content will be delivered through easy-to-share formats drawing on familiar Indian idioms, such as Screensavers Manch, Poster Chaupal, scams decoded through infographics, Cyber Kathas, stickers and Cyber Pathshala ki Kitaab.

What officials and DSCI said

Ashish Shelar, Minister for Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra, said, "As more citizens across our cities, towns and villages come online, they are increasingly exposed to new forms of cybercrime, making digital awareness and digital sanitization more important than ever. Awareness is a firewall that can help protect people from future cybercrimes. From pensioners and investors to schoolchildren attending online classes, mothers using digital devices and the growing community of esports players, everyone needs to understand the precautions required to stay safe online. DSCI's multistakeholder Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign is exactly the kind of collective effort we need. By taking simple, relatable safety messages to every citizen, 'Be Cyber Street Smart' will help build the everyday awareness needed to keep families, businesses and communities safe. The theme of 'Kathputlis' carries a powerful message on the importance of cyber protection, and I hope this campaign becomes one of the biggest cyber awareness campaigns in the country. The Government of Maharashtra remains committed to working with industry to strengthen our collective cyber resilience."

Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary (Information & Public Relations), Government of Maharashtra, said, "Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, with bad actors using sophisticated technology and AI to target citizens. To counter this, technical defense alone isn't enough; we need every individual to be vigilant. Initiatives like DSCI's Cyber Security Awareness Month and the 'Be Cyber Street Smart' campaign play a critical role in demystifying digital threats and empowering people with actionable, common-sense security habits. Protecting our digital ecosystem requires strong collaboration between all concerned. By staying informed, cautious, and cyber street smart, every citizen can contribute to building a safer and more resilient digital India."

Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said, "Digital adoption has transformed how Indians transact, communicate and access services, but the same connectivity is being exploited by adversaries who are now using AI to make fraud faster, more convincing and harder to detect. As threats like deepfakes, voice cloning and APK scams grow, end-user awareness is a cornerstone of defense. With 'Be Cyber Street Smart', we have deliberately reimagined a traditional Indian storytelling form so that cyber safety reaches every citizen in a language and idiom they recognize. Cyber safety is a shared, everyday responsibility, and I thank the government and our industry partners for coming together to carry this message across the country."