Bhubaneswar, 25 October (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned that modern warfare was increasingly extending beyond conventional military confrontation to attacks on national economies, stressing that India must strengthen the protection of its banking system against cyber threats and what he described as “cyber terrorists”.

Addressing a gathering in Bhubaneswar after inaugurating the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Rs 169-crore data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute,PM Modi underscored the growing importance of securing the country’s financial infrastructure in an era when digital systems have become integral to economic activity.

The Prime Minister’s remarks highlighted the changing nature of security challenges, with cyberattacks capable of threatening financial operations, disrupting essential services and undermining confidence in digital systems. His warning placed cybersecurity within the broader framework of national security and economic stability.

PM Modi said the newly inaugurated facilities would significantly benefit the people of Odisha as well as the country. He also emphasised that development must extend beyond major urban centres, stating, “Development for us means balanced growth of India and opportunities for villages and small towns.”

The inauguration marked a significant addition to the RBI’s technological infrastructure. Located at Info Valley-II in Jatni, near Bhubaneswar, the complex has been designed to strengthen the central bank’s computing capabilities and support the wider financial sector with secure, resilient and scalable digital infrastructure.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the data centre comprises four advanced facilities intended to host mission-critical payment and settlement systems alongside other major RBI initiatives. It has received Tier IV certification from the Uptime Institute, a recognised international benchmark for data centre infrastructure resilience.

The facility is expected to improve the reach, efficiency and reliability of digital financial services while providing a secure technological foundation for India’s expanding digital economy.

The Cybersecurity Training Institute will complement the data centre by developing specialised expertise in cybersecurity, enterprise technology and emerging technological fields. Its areas of focus will include artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other advanced technologies relevant to the banking, financial services and insurance sector.

The institute is also intended to support research, professional training and sector-wide capacity-building, helping strengthen preparedness against evolving cyber risks.

The inauguration was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Odisha Governor Brajmohan Ram, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar