Government acts against apps misusing e-rickshaw battery systems

The Central Government has ordered the removal of mobile applications that were found to enable unauthorised remote control of e-rickshaw batteries, while reaffirming its broader efforts to strengthen India's cybersecurity and digital resilience.

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada informed the Lok Sabha that the government acted after taking note of reports about the misuse of certain Battery Management System (BMS) applications. Orders were issued on 3 July 2026 directing app stores to remove the identified applications.

Action taken against unauthorised battery control

The government said the affected BMS applications allowed unauthorised remote access to e-rickshaw batteries, raising concerns over cybersecurity and user safety. Following reports of misuse, authorities moved to have the applications removed from app stores as part of efforts to prevent further unauthorised access and protect consumers using electric vehicles.

National cybersecurity framework in place

The government highlighted that India has established an integrated cybersecurity framework involving multiple agencies to monitor, prevent and respond to digital threats.

The National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) under the National Security Council Secretariat coordinates cybersecurity efforts across government agencies.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) serves as the country's national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Through the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), CERT-In monitors cyberspace, identifies cyber threats and shares alerts with government departments, state authorities and other stakeholders for timely action.

The government also pointed to the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), which is responsible for protecting critical information infrastructure under the provisions of the IT Act.

Focus on consumer protection and cyber awareness

The government said consumer interests are also protected through the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which addresses challenges arising from digital technologies, e-commerce and evolving markets. Alongside regulatory measures, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology continues to promote cyber awareness through the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project. The initiative focuses on developing cybersecurity skills while encouraging safe online practices through public awareness platforms such as staysafeonline.in, infosecawareness.in and csk.gov.in. The information was shared by Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 22 July 2026.