India's CEA Committee Proposes SCADA System Indigenization Roadmap

• •CEA committee recommends a phased approach for SCADA indigenization in India.
• •A dedicated testing platform for cybersecurity capabilities is to be established within two years.
• •Pilot projects will validate indigenous SCADA technologies at various Load Despatch Centres.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) committee in India has proposed a roadmap for the indigenization of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems to enhance the country's power grid capabilities. The report recommends a phased approach, including the establishment of a testing platform within two years to evaluate indigenous SCADA modules and their cybersecurity features. Pilot projects are suggested at various Load Despatch Centres to validate these technologies in real-time. The committee emphasizes the need for dedicated funding mechanisms to support research and development. The initiative aims to develop 38 software modules and 25 hardware modules by March 2029. The first step involves inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for indigenous SCADA development within a year. The report highlights the importance of comprehensive testing infrastructure for successful implementation.