realme signs MoU with IIIT‑Delhi to launch DigiShield India, a nationwide cyber safety programme targeting 10,000 citizens and 1,000 police officers across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
realme and IIIT‑Delhi launch DigiShield India
Smartphone brand realme has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT‑Delhi) to launch the realme DigiShield India Programme, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening cyber safety awareness and digital resilience. The programme will be jointly implemented by realme India and IIIT‑Delhi, combining industry reach with academic expertise in cybersecurity and digital literacy.
The initiative also focuses on addressing the rising incidence of cybercrime through citizen awareness, structured training, and capacity building for law‑enforcement agencies. By targeting both the public and frontline responders, DigiShield India seeks to create a more secure and informed digital ecosystem in India.
Target reach and core components
The DigiShield India Programme is designed to benefit over 10,000 citizens and 1,000 police personnel across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, two states with high digital‑adoption and vulnerable user‑bases. The intervention includes three core components:
- Public awareness sessions for citizens of different age groups, focusing on safe smartphone use, UPI‑based payments, social‑media security, and phishing‑attack prevention.
- Specialised workshops and technical training for police officers, covering cyber‑crime investigation, digital evidence handling, and emerging threat patterns.
- A DigiShield Certification Programme that equips participants with practical digital‑safety skills and a formal recognition of their cyber‑safety knowledge.
Ambassadors and digital outreach
To extend its impact beyond formal training, the initiative will launch a Cyber Safety Ambassador Programme, which will identify and train local champions and community leaders who can promote safe digital practices within their neighbourhoods, schools, and workplaces. These ambassadors will act as first‑line educators, helping friends and family recognise online scams, suspicious links, and malicious apps before they lead to losses.
A nationwide digital outreach campaign will also run alongside the on‑ground activities, using social media, short‑video content, and interactive tools to reach broader audiences. The campaign will highlight real‑life cyber‑risk scenarios, explain preventive measures, and direct users to DigiShield resources and helplines.
Addressing risks in India’s digital surge
The programme arrives at a time when India’s rapid digital adoption- driven by smartphones, UPI payments, and app‑based services – is outpacing users’ awareness of cyber risks. Incidents of online fraud, identity theft, SIM‑swapping, and malware‑driven attacks have surged, often affecting first‑time or elderly digital users.
Francis Wong, CMO, realme India, said: “India’s digital growth story is one of the most powerful in the world, but it is also accompanied by a sharp rise in cyber risks that cannot be overlooked. At realme, we believe that safety must evolve in parallel with access as digital adoption deepens across the country. Through the DigiShield India Programme, in collaboration with IIIT‑Delhi, we are working to bridge this gap by empowering citizens with critical awareness and skills.”
Bridging the cyber‑awareness gap
Dr. Arani Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor and Dean of Communication & Alumni Affairs at IIIT‑Delhi, emphasised that cybercrime is evolving faster than awareness. “The realme DigiShield India Programme represents a critical step towards building digital resilience across India,” she said. “By creating a sustainable ecosystem of sensitised citizens and empowered law enforcement, we can respond more effectively to emerging threats.”
She also added that the partnership aims to empower around 10,000 citizens and 1,000 law‑enforcement officers in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh with digital safety knowledge, and that it exemplifies how academia, industry, and government can collaborate to address pressing cyber‑security challenges.
Through the DigiShield India Programme, realme and IIIT-Delhi aim to build individual and institutional capacity, ensuring that India’s expanding digital footprint equips users with the awareness, tools, and confidence needed to navigate the digital world safely.
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