New Delhi, [India], July 07, 2026: Mr. G. Anirudh Balaji, Executive Director of the National Cyber Security Research Council (NCSRC), was honoured with the prestigious “National Development Champion” Award at the Global Business Convergence Summit 2026, organised by the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
The award recognises his outstanding contributions towards strengthening India’s cybersecurity ecosystem through leadership, cyber awareness initiatives, research, policy advocacy, and capacity-building programmes aimed at building a safer and more resilient digital future.
Adding to the significance of the recognition, the summit carried a strong international and UNESCO-linked dimension, with participation from global representatives and a certification framework associated with the NGO–UNESCO Liaison Committee, UNESCO Paris. The honour was presented by Mr. Benno Böer, Programme Specialist, Natural Sciences, UNESCO, and Dr. Sanjiv Layek, Executive Secretary, WASME, and Member of the NGO–UNESCO Liaison Committee 2024–2026, in the presence of ambassadors, senior diplomats, policymakers, and delegates from 41 participating countries.
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Anirudh Balaji dedicated the recognition to the entire NCSRC team and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing cyber resilience, promoting digital trust, encouraging youth participation in cybersecurity, and fostering meaningful international collaboration in the cyber domain.
The Global Business Convergence Summit 2026 brought together global leaders, innovators, policymakers, industry experts, and diplomatic representatives to celebrate excellence, strengthen international partnerships, and recognise impactful leadership across sectors. The platform further highlighted the importance of global cooperation, institutional collaboration, and knowledge exchange in shaping sustainable development and digital transformation.
