Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat, today presided over a district-level awareness programme to mark Safer Internet Day 2026, organised under the aegis of the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with NIC and other stakeholder departments.
The programme was organised as part of the nationwide campaign being observed across the country on the second Tuesday of February, with the theme “Smart Tech, Safe Choices”, focusing on promoting safe and responsible use of the internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The event also served as a national-level precursor to the upcoming AI Impact Summit 2026 scheduled to be held in New Delhi from February 15th to 20th. While addressing the participants, the DC highlighted the growing importance of digital safety in today’s technology-driven world and stressed the need for creating widespread awareness among students, government employees, and the general public regarding cyber threats and safe online practices.
He underscored that with the increasing use of digital platforms and AI-based tools, citizens must be equipped with the right knowledge to protect themselves from cyber frauds, misinformation, and data breaches. The DC emphasised that responsible and ethical use of AI is essential for ensuring inclusive and people-centric development.
He also stressed the role of AI in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance, while cautioning against its misuse for scams, deepfakes, and misinformation. During the programme, detailed presentations were made on key aspects including safe internet usage, cyber hygiene practices, common cyber threats such as phishing, OTP and UPI frauds, fake customer care scams, malware, deepfake and AI voice scams, online shopping frauds, and digital arrest scams.
Participants were sensitised on mechanisms for reporting cybercrimes through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and the helpline number 1930. The participants were also educated on best practices such as use of strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links, securing UPI and card transactions, and protecting personal identifiable information.
Awareness resources including www.staysafeonline.in and www.infosecawareness.in were also highlighted. An online pledge for safe and responsible use of AI was administered, and participants were encouraged to enrol in ISEA e-learning courses and download the ISEA Cyber Hygiene mobile application to further strengthen their understanding of cyber safety.
Besides, DIO Informatics, the programme witnessed active participation from officials, students, teachers, Representatives from Revenue, RDD and other stakeholders.