IIIT Hyderabad and NPCI Sign MoU to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Digital Payments

Hyderabad, October 27, 2026: International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24 October to collaborate on strengthening cybersecurity in India's digital payments ecosystem through research, innovation and capacity building.
The collaboration brings together NPCI's expertise in developing and operating India's digital payments infrastructure and IIIT Hyderabad's strengths in advanced technology research. At IIIT Hyderabad, the initiative will be led by the Cyber Manthan Centre (CMC), which works in areas including cybersecurity, digital forensics and trusted infrastructure. Director Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla will be directly involved in steering the Institute's engagement under this partnership.
The MoU provides a framework for joint research and development to address emerging cybersecurity challenges in digital payments. Capacity building will be another key focus, with opportunities for specialised training, knowledge exchange, research engagement and industry-oriented learning. By connecting academic research with practical industry requirements, the partnership aims to strengthen academia-industry engagement in cybersecurity, advance research-led solutions and develop a skilled workforce equipped to address evolving security challenges, contributing to a more secure, resilient and trusted digital payments ecosystem in India.
Dilip Asbe, Managing Director & CEO, NPCI said, “As India’s digital payments ecosystem grows, strengthening security requires continuous innovation, skilled professionals and preparedness to address evolving cyber threats. Our collaboration with IIIT Hyderabad brings together industry experience and academic expertise to advance cybersecurity research, develop practical solutions and build capabilities to tackle current and emerging risks. This collaboration reinforces NPCI’s commitment to proactive risk management and elevating security standards across digital payments.”
Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, said, “At IIIT Hyderabad, we are committed to advancing research and education in areas that address emerging technological challenges. Our collaboration with NPCI will provide a platform to explore cybersecurity challenges specific to digital payments and the application of emerging technologies to enhance payment security. Equally important is the focus on capacity building, which will enable students, researchers and professionals to develop the specialised skills required to secure the next generation of digital payment systems.”