Bhilwara: The first day of the two-day national conference on “Strengthening Societal Security: Prevention of Digital Arrest and Cybercrime Threats” was successfully organised at Sangam University, Bhilwara, on Wednesday.
The conference aims to promote awareness and academic dialogue among students, researchers, faculty members and experts on contemporary issues related to digital arrest, cybercrime, cybersecurity and societal security in the digital age.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Prof. Nimit Ranjan Choudhary, Vice Chancellor, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, as the chief guest. Additional Superintendent of Police Hemant Nogia, Sangam University Vice Chancellor Prof. Karunesh Saxena, Registrar Dr Alok Kumar, senior university officials, faculty members, researchers and students were also present. Board of Management member Palak Mudani attended the programme as well.
Conference Director Prof. Dr Vibhor Paliwal said that in the present digital era, cybercrime is no longer merely a technological challenge but has emerged as an important issue concerning societal security.
Addressing the inaugural session, Prof. Nimit Ranjan Choudhary presented an overview of the transformation from the early stages of human development to the present digital era. He highlighted the relationship between the evolution of human civilisation and technological advancement, observing that while technology has significantly transformed everyday life, digital progress must be accompanied by greater awareness and responsibility towards cybersecurity.
Additional SP Hemant Nogia shared important information on cybersecurity and prevention of cybercrime. He apprised students and members of the public about basic cybersecurity practices, precautions against online fraud and measures to be followed during incidents such as digital arrest scams.
Sangam University Vice Chancellor Prof. Karunesh Saxena highlighted the seriousness of digital arrest and cybercrime and also shared real-life experiences involving acquaintances and family members. He stressed that while people benefit from digital facilities, they must also remain alert and responsible about cybersecurity.
Registrar Dr Alok Kumar appreciated the contemporary relevance of the conference theme and said that such academic events provide students and young people with an opportunity to understand the challenges emerging in the rapidly changing digital environment. He also appreciated the insights shared by experts, speakers and participants.
Conference Coordinator Dr Surbhi Birla said that the increasing use of digital technology has also led to continuous changes in the nature of cybercrime. She emphasised the need to educate young people and the public about identifying cyber threats, preventive measures and the risks associated with digital arrest scams. She added that the conference provided an opportunity to examine cybersecurity from multiple perspectives through expert insights and research papers presented by scholars.
Two technical sessions were organised on the first day of the conference. In Technical Session-I, Dr Ravi Mundra delivered a keynote presentation on cybersecurity and related issues, while Dr Avinash Panwar chaired the session. Students and research scholars presented research papers on cybersecurity, digital arrest and cybercrime. The session chair and keynote speaker appreciated the presentations and engaged the researchers in discussions on their research findings through subject-specific questions.
Technical Session-II was attended by Prof. Mukesh Kumar Sharma, who sensitised students about the importance of cybersecurity, preventive measures against cybercrime and the growing threat of digital arrest scams. He encouraged students to become vigilant and responsible digital citizens.
The two technical sessions featured detailed discussions on the evolving nature of cybercrime, digital security and measures to prevent cyber offences at both individual and societal levels through research papers presented by scholars.
The programme was effectively conducted by Dr Neha Sabharwal and Dr Kalpana Nebinani. Conference Organising Secretary Dr Akanksha Maru played an important role in coordinating the event and its arrangements. Faculty members of the university actively contributed to the successful organisation of the conference and efficiently carried out their respective responsibilities.