India has made it to the top 10 in Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 by ITU, moving up 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world on key cybersafety parameters.

Global Cybersecurity Index

• GCI assessment is done on the basis of performance on five parameters of cybersecurity including legal measures, technical measures, organizational measures, capacity development, and cooperation.
• The performance is then aggregated into an overall score.
• For each of the five aspects, all the countries’ performance and commitment are assessed through a question-based online survey, which further allowed for the collection of the supporting evidence.

India’s progress

• As per the ranking, India has moved up by 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world.
• The US topped the chart, followed by the UK and Saudi Arabia tied on the second position, while Estonia was ranked third in the index.
• India has also secured the fourth position in the Asia Pacific region, underlining its commitment to cybersecurity.

Its significance

• The affirmation by the UN body of India’s efforts on cybersecurity comes just ahead of the sixth anniversary of Digital India on July 1.
• India is emerging as a global IT superpower, asserting its digital sovereignty with firm measures to safeguard data privacy and online rights of citizens.

Back2Basics: International Telecommunication Union

• ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.
• Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks. It is Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
• Recently, India got elected as a member of ITU Council for another 4-year term – from 2019 to 2022. India has remained a regular member since 1952.

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