UPSC Notes

Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

This concept directly relates to national security, economic stability, governance challenges in the digital age, and the role of technology in modern warfare and espionage. It's a critical area for policy-making and international relations.

Critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water supply, and communication networks, forms the backbone of a nation's economy and security. Ensuring its cybersecurity is paramount to prevent disruptions, espionage, and sabotage by state and non-state actors, which could have catastrophic societal and economic consequences.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Vulnerability

Increasing digitalization and interconnectedness make critical infrastructure susceptible to sophisticated cyberattacks.

Threat Actors

State-sponsored groups, terrorist organizations, and cybercriminals pose significant and evolving threats.

Impact

Attacks can lead to widespread power outages, financial system collapse, data theft, and potential loss of life.

Mitigation

Includes robust network defenses, secure supply chain management, threat intelligence sharing, and international cooperation.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaNational Security
Conceptual areaGovernance
Conceptual areaScience & Technology
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • Critical infrastructure: essential systems (power, water, transport, finance).
  • Cyber threats: espionage, sabotage, data theft, ransomware.
  • Vulnerabilities: supply chain, digital backdoors, interconnectedness.
  • Impact: economic disruption, national security risk, societal chaos.
  • Mitigation: robust defenses, intelligence sharing, international cooperation.

High-confidence PYQs

Topic timeline

National SecurityGovernanceScience & Technology

Trump declares emergency over foreign equipment in U.S. power grid

27 Aug 2026 · Protecting essential national systems (power, water, transport, finance) from cyber threats, including state-sponsored attacks and supply chain vulnerabilities, to ensure national security and economic stability.

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Related topics

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cybersecurity incidents? 1. Service providers 2. Data centres 3. Body corporate...

2017·Science & Technology
Solve

In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations 3. Controlling the power grids Select the c...

2018·Science & Technology
Solve

With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : 1. Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. 2. In Web 3-0 world, there ca...

2022·Science & Technology
Solve

Which of the following statements regarding the features of blockchain technology are correct? 1. Records stored in the database may be made visible to rele...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. Th...

2018·Science & Technology
Solve

With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolut...

2019·Science & Technology
Solve

Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is **not** correctly matched? | Semiconductor Plant | Location | |---|...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India: 1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial o...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

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