The Reserve Bank of India, Chandigarh, under its consumer protection initiatives, through the Consumer Education and Protection Cell (CEPC), organised a week-long Cyber Awareness Programme series for school students from December 15 to 19, 2025.The campaign aimed to sensitise students about cyber security, cyber frauds, digital risks affecting Generation Z, and the grievance redressal mechanisms of the Reserve Bank of India.
The programmes were organised in seven schools across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, namely Amity International School Mohali, St Xaviers School Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Public School Chandigarh, Bhavan Vidyalaya Panchkula, Satluj Public School Panchkula, The Gurukul Panchkula, and Banyan Tree School Chandigarh.
Across these schools, around 1045 students of Class VIII to XII participated along with teachers and benefited from the campaign. In addition, programmes were also conducted in Observation Home for Boys and Snehalaya for Girls in Sector 25 and Sector 15 of Chandigarh respectively.
The outreach programmes were conducted in line with RBI’s consumer awareness initiatives, including the “RBI Kehta Hai” public awareness campaign, and in accordance with the Bank’s regulatory guidelines on customer protection in electronic transactions and consumer grievance redressal.
The sessions covered common cyber frauds, precautions for safe digital transactions, responsible use of digital platforms by young minds, and awareness about consumer rights and grievance redressal channels under the Reserve Bank of India’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.
The initiative was undertaken under the guidance and leadership of the Regional Director, RBI Chandigarh, Shri Vivek Srivastava, as part of a unique program devised by the RBI Chandigarh RO, recognising cyber conduct as an important aspect of cyber security.
The programmes targeted school students of Class VIII and above, who are the next-generation adults, sensitising them about appropriate behaviour in both the real and digital worlds, including what personal information should or should not be shared, such as email IDs, mobile numbers, date of birth and other sensitive details. T
he programme was coordinated and guided by Shri Navneet Singh Nagar, Deputy General Manager, CEPC, RBI Chandigarh, reflecting RBI’s commitment to proactive consumer awareness among youth. The sessions were conducted by Shri Mohammad Arif Ansari, a seasoned banker and cyber-security expert based in Goa, who interacted with students and participants through real-life case studies, practical demonstrations and engaging discussions, enabling participants to recognise frauds and take informed decisions in the digital ecosystem.
The programmes received overwhelming response from students, educators and institutional authorities, who appreciated RBI’s efforts in equipping young citizens with essential knowledge to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.