Avtar Singh Hanspal has been elevated to Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (Deputy CISO) at the National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). According to his LinkedIn profile, the Delhi-based role commenced in October 2026, marking a new leadership responsibility in his nearly 17-year association with the organisation.
Hanspal’s career at NIC spans network security, cybersecurity and vulnerability management. His elevation follows a progression through technical and management positions, with experience covering the research, design, deployment and implementation of data centre network security.
His profile lists him as Joint Director (IT) since January 2023, with network security identified as an area of expertise. The position remains listed as current alongside his new Deputy CISO role, reflecting the chronology presented in his professional profile.
Previously, Hanspal served as Senior System Analyst at NIC from December 2009 to February 2023. During this period, his work focused on data centre network security across multiple stages of implementation, from research and design through deployment. This experience forms a substantial part of his professional background as he moves into the information security leadership position.
The elevation takes place within an organisation central to India’s government technology infrastructure. Established in 1976, NIC serves as the Government of India’s technology partner, providing technology-driven solutions to Central and State Governments. Its mandate includes designing and developing government IT systems, delivering ICT infrastructure and advising on the use of emerging technologies.
NIC’s infrastructure encompasses NICNET, the National Knowledge Network, National Data Centres, the National Cloud, and communication services such as email, messaging and video conferencing. The organisation also supports digital governance platforms and has established centres of excellence in areas including artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain and application security.
This institutional setting places information security within a broad ecosystem of government networks, infrastructure and digital services. Hanspal’s progression from data centre network security responsibilities to Deputy CISO brings long-standing technical experience and familiarity with NIC’s operating environment to the role.
His elevation marks a further step in a career built within the organisation, connecting hands-on security implementation experience with a senior information security designation.
