NPCI, IDRBT join hands to bolster security for digital payments

NPCI and IDRBT will jointly offer specialised training programmes for technology and cyber security professionals in the banking and digital payments sectors

New Delhi: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), Hyderabad, on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on strengthening cyber security and resilience in India’s fast-growing digital payments ecosystem, including UPI.

This partnership aims to improve the overall safety of digital transactions by focusing on training, awareness, and proactive risk management.

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Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO of NPCI, said that this collaboration with IDRBT, an RBI institute based in Hyderabad,  is a step towards enhancing cyber resilience not just through technology, but also through people and preparedness.

“Strengthening cyber resilience is not just about technology, but also about people and preparedness,” Asbe stated. He emphasised that training, certifications, and shared intelligence will play a key role in raising security standards.

Dr Deepak Kumar, Director of IDRBT, said the institute has always worked towards helping the banking and finance sector adopt technology. He added that this formal partnership will boost security awareness and build strong response systems within the digital payments ecosystem.

Under the MoU, both organisations will jointly offer specialised training programmes for technology and cyber security professionals in the banking and digital payments sectors. These programmes will cover important areas such as cyber security, data privacy, and system resiliency.

One of the key outcomes of the partnership will be the launch of a new NPCI-certified payment security certification programme. This certification will be tailored to meet the latest industry requirements and regulatory expectations, helping professionals stay updated with emerging threats and best practices.

Additionally, IDRBT will extend its cyber threat intelligence service platform to NPCI and its partner organisations. This service will provide real-time, contextual threat intelligence to help prevent cyber-attacks and strengthen defence mechanisms across the digital payment network.

The partnership comes at a time when India’s digital payment platforms like UPI are seeing rapid growth and increased usage.