The government denied that Chinese cyber attackers caused power blackouts in India in a parliamentary response on Thursday. "[Did] some States [face] electricity blackout or massive power outrage due to the said cyber attacks that manage power supply across the country and if so, [what is] the factual position in this regard," a question to the Ministry of Power asked. "No, Sir," RK Singh, Minister of State for Power said in a written response. The Minister did admit to cyber incidents being reported "in the recent past" at multiple load despatch centres, but denied that they caused power blackouts. "In the recent past, cyber incidents have been reported at Southern Region Load Despatch Center (SRLDC), Western Region Load Despatch Center (WRLDC) and North Eastern Region Load Despatch Center (NERLDC) of Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO), NTPC Kudgi and Telangana State Transco. Necessary isolation and other protection measures have been taken by these organizations. Further detailed analysis of the incidents is under process under the guidance of CERT-In [the Computer Emergency Response Team of India]," Singh said. [emphasis supplied] The government previously denied reporting that the Mumbai power blackout on October 12, 2020, was caused by cyberattackers from China, in the context of heightened tensions at the border. The government was responding to queries by MPs Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, D. M. Kathir Anand, Uttam Kumar Nalamada Reddy, Asaduddin Owaisi, Bhagwanth Khuba, Prathap Simha, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Ravneet Singh, Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Pratima Bhoumik. Full question and answer Will…
