The National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, is organizing the 3rd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics & Intelligence (NCCDFI 2026) on November 16-17, 2026, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, 15 Janpath, New Delhi. The conference is centered around the theme "Cyber Secure Bharat: Fortifying India's Digital Future" and aims to address the increasing dependence on digital technologies, emergence of sophisticated cyber threats, and evolving nature of cybercrime that have made cybersecurity and digital investigation critical areas of national importance.
The conference journey began with the inaugural edition in Kohima, Nagaland, from July 25-26, 2024, organized by NIELIT Kohima in collaboration with Nagaland Police and the Department of Information Technology & Communication, Government of Nagaland. The second edition was held in 2025 at Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam. The third edition aims to expand from a regional initiative into a broader national platform through wider participation, technology demonstrations, knowledge exchange, and stronger collaboration among key stakeholders.
NCCDFI 2026 will provide a knowledge-sharing platform for stakeholders from government, law enforcement, defense, judiciary, technology providers, industry, academia, and the cybersecurity ecosystem to deliberate on emerging cyber threats and evolving challenges in digital investigations and cyber resilience. The conference will focus on strengthening coordination among agencies, enhancing capacity in cybersecurity and digital forensics, facilitating policy dialogue, and exploring the application of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Security, and Cyber Intelligence.
The conference is supported by multiple knowledge partners including Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), CERT-In, Delhi Police, CyberPeace, Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC), Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow, Maharashtra Cyber, Manipur Police, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), Hyderabad, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Industry partners include STELLAR, Power Forensics & Digital Intelligence, Magnet Forensics, MSAB, Cyint Technologies, 3rd Eye Techno Solutions, Advanced Digital Forensic Solutions, Inc., Oxygen Forensics, and VERTEXON LABS, who will contribute industry expertise, technology demonstrations, and practical insights.
The conference will focus on 10 key tracks covering Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, AI Security, Critical Infrastructure, Threat Intelligence, Blockchain & Crypto, Drone & IoT Forensics, Digital Evidence, Cyber Law, and Cloud Security. These tracks will bring together experts and practitioners to explore emerging threats, technological advancements, investigative techniques, regulatory developments, and strategies for building a secure and resilient digital ecosystem.
The two-day conference will feature an inaugural session, technical and business sessions, panel discussions, an industry exhibition, and Cyber Kushti 2026 – Cybersecurity & AI Hackathon. Technical sessions will cover national cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, incident response, AI-enabled cyber threats, automated digital investigations, cyber threat intelligence, financial cybercrime, advanced device and multimedia forensics, law-enforcement readiness, international cooperation, digital evidence, quantum computing, autonomous systems, frontier technologies, capacity building, and the national cyber ecosystem. The exhibition will showcase technologies and solutions in digital forensics, cybersecurity, drone technology, surveillance systems, and AI-driven security.
A key highlight is the Cyber Kushti 2026 hackathon, which received 1,031 team registrations comprising 3,093 participants. Of these, 923 teams (2,769 participants) have been shortlisted for Level 1, while 50 teams have qualified for Level 2 and 10 teams for Level 3. The hackathon is structured around the themes of Review, Attack and Defend, reflecting critical aspects of modern cybersecurity operations.
The conference will also feature the signing of MoUs between NIELIT and industry partners aimed at strengthening institutional partnership, knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, research and development, and capacity building in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence. These collaborations are envisaged to establish a framework for long-term cooperation and facilitate industry-academia engagement.