IIT Kanpur's C3iHub to run UP's ₹104-crore cyber security centre for 3 years

By TUF News Desk · Published 30 October 2026 · 3 min read

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The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur will build and run Uttar Pradesh’s new state-level cyber security operations centre. The project is worth Rs 104.28 crore, including operations and maintenance, and has been cleared by the state cabinet. IIT Kanpur’s cybersecurity technology innovation hub, C3iHub, will set up the Uttar Pradesh Cyber Security Operations Centre (UP-CSOC) and operate it for an initial period of three years.

A single watchtower for state systems

The centre will watch over the state government’s digital infrastructure around the clock. Its work covers centralised monitoring, threat detection and incident response across government networks, applications, data and critical information systems. The point of bringing this under one roof is to catch attacks early and respond from a single place, rather than leaving each department to handle its own security.

IIT Kanpur director Prof Manindra Agrawal said the centre was an important step towards protecting the state’s digital infrastructure from evolving cyber threats. “Any breach can disrupt essential services and compromise sensitive data,” he said.

The state cabinet cleared the project earlier this week at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna announced the decision after the meeting, saying the centre would monitor government digital infrastructure round the clock and respond to cyber threats.

Why C3iHub got the job

C3iHub is not new to this kind of work. The hub has previously deployed security operations centre capabilities for the SAIL Bhilai Steel Plant, the National Highways Authority of India and the Indian Ports Association. That record is what the state is buying: a team that has already run live monitoring for large organisations.

C3iHub is a Technology Innovation Hub established at IIT Kanpur with funding from the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems. In May 2025, the department upgraded it to a Technology Translational Research Park, with cybersecurity as its focus area.

What it means for students

For students considering cybersecurity, the project shows where a large share of the work is heading. Protecting government systems is now a full-time operational job as well as a research topic. The centre will need people who can monitor networks, analyse threats and respond to incidents, and C3iHub already runs a national cybersecurity hackathon, HACK IITK, that gives students a way into this field. Details of the hub’s programmes are on the official C3iHub website.

Students weighing an institute on the strength of its industry and government projects should look at how those projects connect to teaching and placements. Our guide to choosing a university in India sets out how to compare factors like these alongside academics, fees and campus life when shortlisting colleges.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Uttar Pradesh Cyber Security Operations Centre?

It is a state-level centre that will provide round-the-clock monitoring, threat detection and incident response for Uttar Pradesh government digital infrastructure.

How much will the UP-CSOC project cost?

The project is estimated at Rs 104.28 crore, including operations and maintenance expenses.

How long will IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub run the centre?

C3iHub will establish and operate the centre for an initial period of three years.

Who approved the UP-CSOC project?

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the project at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Indian Express, The Statesman, The Times of India