Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the urgent need for a techno-legal framework to tackle modern crimes like cyber threats, artificial intelligence misuse, and deepfakes, during the 21st D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture on the occasion of the 62nd Foundation Day of the CBI.
Speaking on the theme “Viksit Bharat @2047 – A Roadmap for CBI”, Vaishnaw highlighted that India’s legal system must evolve by integrating technological infrastructure and institutional support to stay ahead of complex crimes in the digital era. He urged the CBI to establish advanced cyber forensic laboratories and suggested greater collaboration with academic and research institutions to strengthen capabilities.
Key Pillars of India’s Development Vision 2047
Vaishnaw outlined four key pillars contributing to India’s progress and legal transformation:
1. Physical, Social, and Digital Infrastructure:
• Rapid growth in national highways, electrification of railways, and development of airports.
• India now has 118 crore telecom users, 70 crore smartphone users, and 490 new universities, reinforcing both digital and social infrastructure.
2. Inclusive Development:
• Over the last decade:
• 54 crore new bank accounts
• 4 crore housing units
• 12 crore water connections
• 35 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat
• These milestones have significantly reduced poverty.
3. Manufacturing Push:
• Through ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’, India has become the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer and electronics is now the third-largest export sector.
4. Legal Simplification:
• The government scrapped over 1,500 obsolete laws and introduced new codes such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to modernize India’s legal landscape.
Honouring Officers and Strengthening Institutions
At the event held in New Delhi, CBI Director Praveen Sood, Attorney General of India, Central Vigilance Commissioner, heads of ED, IB, NIA, and senior international law enforcement officers were in attendance. On the occasion, 26 officers were awarded the President’s Police Medal and Police Medals for distinguished and meritorious service.
Vaishnaw called upon investigative agencies to leverage scientific and legal expertise to ensure efficiency and accountability in criminal investigations. He emphasized that strengthening institutional and technological capacities would be crucial in realizing the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
