India Hosts First SUMS Workshop, Setting a National Benchmark in Automotive Cybersecurity

PUNE — India marked a significant milestone in advancing secure and software-driven mobility with the successful conduct of the nation’s first Software Update Management System (SUMS) Workshop at the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), Pune, in collaboration with AutoSifu Pvt. Ltd.

The event commenced with a keynote virtual address by Mr. K.C. Sharma, Adviser, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), who emphasized that secure and well-governed software lifecycle management will be the cornerstone of India’s next phase of automotive safety, particularly with the transition toward connected and intelligent vehicles.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Vikram Pagare, Head of Operations – AutoSifu, highlighted that modern vehicles operate as digitally driven platforms with millions of lines of code, making secure software update practices a national necessity as India prepares for AIS-190 / UN R156 implementation.

Distinguished industry speakers presented key insights aligned with India’s cybersecurity vision:

• Dr. Devendra Singh, Director – CIRT, outlined CIRT’s strategic roadmap to strengthen India’s leadership in SUMS, CSMS & ISO 21434 capability building through the CIRT–AutoSifu knowledge partnership.
• Mr. Farukh Makhdoom, Head – Automotive Cybersecurity CIRT, discussed upcoming initiatives to enable preparedness and compliance readiness across OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
• Mr. Vyshak Suresh, Director – Cyber Defense, delivered a comprehensive SUMS masterclass that received exceptional appreciation for simplifying complex regulatory and technical frameworks.

The workshop, held in hybrid mode, witnessed high-level participation from leading OEMs including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai, Honda, Skoda Auto Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ashok Leyland, and Renault-Nissan Technology, Stellantis Group, along with Tier-1 suppliers such as Cummins India Technology, AdSafe, and Varroc Engineering.
Participants described the workshop as “timely,” “insightful,” and “critical for AIS-190 readiness.”

Key Takeaway

India is positioning itself at the forefront of safe and secure automotive software lifecycle management—ready to lead global progress in cyber-resilient mobility.