Description

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Context

The Revenue Department under the Ministry of Finance issued a notification bringing the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under Section 66 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

This empowers I4C to share and receive information with the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies under PMLA for better tackling cybercrime and money laundering linkages.

Purpose of the Move

Helps trace money trails in cybercrimes.

Combatting Transnational Cyber Frauds: Most cyber scams today cross national boundaries; sharing data helps global cooperation.

Targets the actual orchestrators behind cyber frauds often hidden behind complex networks.

Improved Information Sharing between I4C, ED and other enforcement agencies.

Faster Response to Cyber Attacks especially in financial cybercrimes, ransomware attacks, online financial frauds and scams through fake websites, deceptive social media and phishing links.

About Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

Aspect	Details
Established by	Ministry of Home Affairs
Year	2018
Headquarters	New Delhi
Objective	To act as a national-level nodal agency to tackle cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner
Key Activities	Prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution of cybercrimes
Major Focus Areas	Crimes against women, children; financial frauds; ransomware; cyber hygiene awareness
Technology Integration	Early warning systems, cyber forensic support, research and development of indigenous tools

Components of I4C

Unit/Component	Function
National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit	Regular cyber threat reporting and analysis
National Cybercrime Reporting Portal	24x7 citizen portal for lodging cyber complaints
National Cybercrime Training Centre	Capacity building of law enforcement agencies
National Cybercrime Research and Innovation Centre	Research to develop new technologies and forensic tools
Joint Cybercrime Coordination Team	Sharing information among States/UTs
Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit	Public cyber hygiene awareness programs
National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (Investigation)	Specialized forensic support for cybercrime cases

Other Initiatives under I4C

Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System for quick action against online frauds.

Toll-Free Helpline 1930 for citizens to report cyber frauds.

CyberDost initiative on social media to spread cyber safety tips.

Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to involve citizens in cybercrime prevention.

Overview of PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act)

Aspect	Details
Enacted In	2002 (came into force in 2005)
Objective	Prevent money laundering and confiscate property derived from laundered money
Key Enforcement Agency	Enforcement Directorate
Important Sections	Section 3 (Definition of Money Laundering), Section 5 (Attachment of Property), Section 66 (Information sharing)
Offences under Schedule	Covers offences under IPC, NDPS Act, Arms Act, and now cybercrimes through the I4C inclusion
Amendments	Strengthened multiple times (notably in 2009, 2012, 2019) to broaden scope

Sources: HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the significance of bringing the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. How will this strengthen India's fight against cyber-enabled financial crimes? 250 words