The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has launched a nationwide cybersecurity awareness campaign titled “Be Cyber Street Smart” as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026. The campaign was formally launched in Mumbai at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and is designed to help citizens recognize and respond to increasingly sophisticated forms of online fraud.
A major focus of this year's campaign is the growing use of artificial intelligence by cybercriminals. Scammers are increasingly using technologies such as AI-generated voice cloning, deepfakes and automated social-engineering techniques to make fraudulent calls, messages and videos appear convincing. DSCI is also highlighting malicious APK scams, new forms of “digital arrest” fraud and attacks targeting users through social media, email and digital-payment platforms.
What makes the campaign particularly interesting is its use of India's traditional Kathputli storytelling tradition to communicate modern cybersecurity lessons. Instead of relying only on technical terminology, the initiative uses familiar storytelling formats, posters, infographics, videos, comics, stickers and educational material to make cyber-safety practices easier for ordinary users to understand and remember.
The campaign is supported by organisations including CERT-In, I4C, MeitY, Maharashtra Cyber and BSE, along with several private-sector partners. Throughout October, DSCI plans to promote practical habits around verifying suspicious messages, protecting accounts, avoiding unknown applications, securing digital payments and being cautious about AI-generated content.
With India's digital adoption continuing to expand, the initiative highlights an important shift in cybersecurity: technical security alone is not enough; users themselves have become an important part of the defence system.
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