Kudankulam Data Breach (Science and Technology)
Kudankulam Data Breach (Science and Technology)
Why In News:
A ransomware group called World Leaks leaked files linked to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) on the dark web.
Source: The Hindu, Page 1, 16 July 2026, 'Kudankulam nuclear plant data leak sparks absolute commotion'.
About Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, it is India's largest nuclear power plant by capacity.
Built with Russian cooperation, it uses VVER-1000 Light Water Reactors, which have higher power output than India's indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
Institutional Framework for Nuclear and Cyber Security
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): apex body for India's atomic energy programme, functioning directly under the Prime Minister's Office.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL): a public sector undertaking under the DAE that owns and operates India's commercial nuclear power plants.
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB): set up in 1983 under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to regulate the safety of nuclear and radiation facilities.
CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is the country’s nodal agency for handling cyber incidents, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and established under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Functions: It works to prevent, monitor, and respond to cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, online fraud, AI-driven scams, and attacks on critical digital infrastructure.
Broader Significance
The incident underlines the vulnerability of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), which is granted special protection under Section 70 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) refers to vital computer systems, networks, and digital assets whose failure or destruction can seriously affect national security, the economy, public health, or public safety.
It includes both physical and virtual assets in key sectors such as energy, finance, telecommunications, and transportation.