Public Key Infrastructure and its Applications (PKIA 2024)

Inauguration (10:00 - 11:15)

• Welcome Address: Shri Aashish Banati, Deputy Controller (Technology), O/o CCA, MeitY
• Introduction to PKIA 2024: Prof. R. K Shymasundar, General Chair, PKIA 2024
• Address by General Co-Chair: Prof. D N Sujatha, BMSCE Bangalore
• Address by Chair, IEEE IAS, Bangalore Chapter: Dr. Prasant Misra, General Co-Chair, PKIA 2024
• Address by Executive Director, C-DAC Bangalore: Dr. S D Sudarsan, General Chair, PKIA 2024
• Address by Director General, C-DAC: Shri Magesh Ethirajan, Patron, PKIA 2024
• Inaugural Address by Chief Guest: Shri Arvind Kumar, Patron, PKIA 2024
• Introduction Talk: CCA & its Functions by Shri Deepak Kumar, Scientist 'D', O/o CCA
• Vote of Thanks: Dr. Balaji R., Scientist 'F', C-DAC, Bengaluru
• Group Photos:

Welcome Address

• Speaker: Shri Aashish Banati, Deputy Controller (Technology),
  O/o CCA, MeitY
• Bio: Shri Aashish Banati, is a Deputy Controller (Technology) in the office of Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA). He has had an illustrious tenure and has made indispensable contributions throughout his extensive career at Ministry of Electronics & IT in various capacities. Spanning over three decades, his journey has been defined by a series of noteworthy achievements and exemplary leadership across various pivotal roles. His expertise and proficiency in software and hardware security have been not only instrumental but also a guiding force in his relentless pursuit of excellence. His ability to ensure product quality and adherence to industry standards, such as ISO, IEC, IECQ, IEEE, JIS, and JSS, has set a remarkable benchmark. His outstanding leadership in overseeing teams of engineers and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence has been highly commendable. The successful management and motivation of test teams for significant E-governance projects, including NSDG, MCA21, Passport Seva MoUD, stand as testament to his strategic vision and commitment to promoting indigenous token solutions and standardized protocols. He has led the Indian Common Criteria scheme at STQC and spearheading the Biometric Device Certification scheme, which was acknowledged and appreciated by esteemed individuals like Shri Nandan Nilekani ji, showcase his profound influence and expertise in the domain. In his role as Deputy Controller (Technology), his diligence and dedication in regulating Digital Signatures and driving global mutual recognition initiatives have significantly contributed to the safety and security of the entire digital ecosystem. His leadership in the domains of PKI, Digital Signature, and Post Quantum Crypto has played a pivotal role in upholding the highest standards of security. He has also been promoting the indigenisation in the CCA ecosystem which will soon be seen in tokens, software, common API, tools for fraud prevention etc. His unwavering commitment to the Office of Controller of Certifying Authorities and relentless efforts in shaping its framework and operations have been indispensable. His impact has reverberated not just within the organization but also across the broader digital security landscape.

Introduction to PKIA 2024

• Speaker: Prof. R. K Shymasundar, General Chair, PKIA 2024
• Bio: R K Shyamasundar is a Life Fellow of IEEE a Fellow of ACM, Distinguished ACM Speaker, a Distinguished Alumnus of Indian Institute of Science, served as IEEE Distinguished Speaker, and was the founding Dean of School of Technology and Computer Science at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He has been JC Bose National Fellow at TIFR and IIT Bombay and he is an INAE (Indian National Academy of Engineering) Distinguished Professor at the Department of Computer Science, IIT Bombay. He is an Adjunct Professor, NITIE, Mumbai.

Address by General Co-Chair

• Speaker: Prof. D N Sujatha, BMSCE Bangalore
• Bio:

Address by Chair, IEEE IAS, Bangalore Chapter

• Speaker: Dr. Prasant Misra, General Co-Chair, PKIA 2024
• Bio: Dr. Prasant Misra is a scientist with TCS Research, where he works on intelligent cyber-physical systems for smart mobility. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Sydney (2012); and completed his postdoc from the Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Stockholm (2013). He has worked in different roles and capabilities for Keane Inc. (now a unit of NTT Data Corporation), CSIRO (Australia), and Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-Physical Systems at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He has received several recognitions for his work, of which it is noteworthy to mention the: MIT TR35 India (“Top 10 Innovators under the age of 35 in India”) in 2017; ERCIM “Alain Bensoussan” and “Marie Curie” Fellowship in 2012; Australian Government’s AusAID “Australian Leadership Awards” in 2008. Prasant is an active volunteer of technical education and training. He serves on the editorial board of the IEEE Communications Magazine as Series Editor of Internet of Things, and the Elsevier Ad Hoc Networks Journal as Area Editor. He is the Founding Chair of the IMOBILE ACM Chapter (the India chapter of ACM SIGMOBILE); Chair of the Technical Subcommittee for IoT of FutureSkills Prime (a joint initiative between MeitY and NASSCOM on e-learning); member of the executive committees of IEEE Bangalore Section (as Vice-Chair – Industry Activities); IEEE Computer Society Bangalore Chapter (as Chair); and COMSNETS Association. He is a senior member of the IEEE and ACM.

Address by Executive Director, C-DAC Bangalore

• Speaker: Dr. S D Sudarsan, General Chair, PKIA 2024
• Bio: Dr. S. D. Sudarsan is the Executive Director at C-DAC Bangalore since August 2020. He has more than three decades of R&D experience as Researcher and Manager in various domains of ICT. Prior to the current assignment, he served as R&D Manager at ABB, Visiting Scientist at US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), USA, Group Head at the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Scientist at funded R&D institutions. He is an alumnus of BITS, Pilani and University of Arkansas at Little Rock, USA for Masters and PhD respectively. He is actively involved with professional bodies including IEEE, ACM, and IETE. He has contributed to various standard related activities at IEC/ISO/BIS and has served in various committees as well as task forces. He has multiple patents, and research publications in peer-reviewed International Journals and Conferences. His areas of specialization include Wireless Communications, Next Generation Networks, Quantum Computing, Cyber Physical Systems, Cyber Security, Industrial IoT, R&D Management, IPR. He leads the domains including Safety and Mission Critical Systems; Quantum Computing, Cyber Security, IoE, HPC etc. Dr. Sudarsan is an outstanding professional, great mentor, industrious and an altruist.

Address by Director General, C-DAC

• Speaker: Shri Magesh Ethirajan, Patron, PKIA 2024
• Bio: Shri E. Magesh has taken charge as Director General, C-DAC since April 2022. He is spearheading the National Mission Programs like the National Supercomputing Mission, Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) and C-DAC Mission Mode Programs in HPC, AI, Cyber Security, Quantum Computing and Next Generation Computing. Since June 2023, he is also assigned with the Additional Charge as Director General, Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET). Under his leadership, C-MET is continuing to develop leapfrogging electronic materials technologies such as Compound semiconductors for high power devices, ultra high purity materials for National Semiconductor Mission, Quantum & 2D materials, resource efficiency and circular economy through e-waste recycling, niche ceramic and composite materials for 5G & 6G communications etc. Prior to this Shri Magesh was heading C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram Centre as Executive Director, C-DAC Hyderabad Centre as Director and has also served as Vice President of MNC. Shri Magesh has more than 29 years of diversified experience ranging from Design Engineering, Project Management and delivery of turnkey projects. He has in depth expertise in Electronics and CHIP design, VLSI, Hardware, IP, Complete Product Cycle. He was also responsible for SOC integration, front end to backend, tape-out and silicon validation, interfacing with various functional groups to deliver tested products and managed various ASIC tape-out for customers. Leveraging three decades of his technology expertise, Shri Magesh has significantly contributed towards end-to-end mission planning of national importance, design, integration and analysis. His innovative contributions, particularly the strategies adopted in R&D towards realising 25 Plus ASIC/CHIP, C-DAC’s indigenous series 32/64 bit RISCV based of Processor called VEGA, and SOC’s called THEJAS under National Microprocessor Development Program, development of 20 Petaflops Supercomputing Facility with indigenous ‘RUDRA Server Board’, TRINETRA High Speed Interconnect, designing and making our own ‘RISC-V based Chip’ and 96 core ARM 64bit Processor in 5 nano meter for India first HPC SOC towards Exa-scale computing to ‘HPC Storage’ to ‘HPC-AI Converged Solutions for high level projects of national importance like Safe City including ERSS and Smart Cities, Integrated Cyber Physical Systems, AI based Anomaly Detection for Cyber Security, establishing first of its kind AI Specific National Critical Cloud Infrastructure, HPC-AI Converged Processor has put a good foundation for launch of various indigenous products and solutions making our country self-reliant and in line with the goals of AatmaNirbhar Bharat and Digital India. His visionary approach in conceptualizing ideas in Quantum Technologies is helping to establish a Quantum Computer. This shall enable develop applications to solve grand challenges and societal problems having economic impact leveraging cutting edge scientific research for India’s sustainable development.

Inaugural Address by Chief Guest

• Speaker: Shri Arvind Kumar, Patron, PKIA 2024
• Bio: Shri. Arvind Kumar is the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA). He was earlier Group Coordinator R&D Electronics & Cyber Security. He has envisioned several projects in PPP mode with Industry/ Startups, Academy and Govt. He had earlier served as a Director General (STQC). He did his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from IIT Delhi. He also did his M.Tech Management and Systems in IIT Delhi. He has rich experience in mentoring startups in ICT and Cyber Security.

Introduction Talk

• Title: CCA & its Functions
• Speaker: Shri Deepak Kumar, Scientist 'D', O/o CCA
• Bio: Shri Deepak Kumar is a Scientist 'D' at the office of CCA.

Vote of Thanks

• Speaker: Dr. Balaji R., Scientist 'F', C-DAC, Bengaluru
• Bio: Dr. Balaji Rajendran is working as a Scientist 'F' and heads the Resilient Information Systems and Engineering (RISE) Group at C-DAC Bangalore. He is currently leading the Open Challenge for development of Indigenous Web Browser for the country. He established the Centre of Excellence in DNS Security with the support of the Ministry and Industry. Under his leadership, a national level project effort for developing Next Generation Smart Applications enabled with digital trust is being undertaken. He is an Internet evangelist and had established a forum (Indian Internet Research and Engineering Forum) for promoting the development of Internet Protocol Standards in India. He has executed several funded (both National and International) and commercial projects predominantly in the areas of Information Security, and Critical Information Infrastructure. He has more than 22+ years of R&D experience in various niche segments of IT. He has published 50+ research papers in various International Conferences and Journals. He is a Fellow of IETE, Senior Member of IEEE, member of ACM, and National Expert Member for developing IoT Security Standards by ISO. He has received national and international fellowships for attending Internet Research and Engineering meetings and cyber security training. He has delivered 100+ technical talks in various prestigious forums. He is a mentor for PhD scholars in the domain of Cyber Security, and a co-supervisor at prestigious institutions (NITs, IITs & IISc). He has received various fellowship awards for Internet leadership and professional development. His research interests and work areas are in the domain of smart, secure, and resilient information systems.

Keynote Talk 1 (11:45 - 12:15)

• Title: Personhood Credentials: How do you prove you’re human in the era of AI deepfakes
• Speaker: Srikanth Nadhamuni, Founder CTO, Aadhaar
• Bio: Srikanth is a technologist and an entrepreneur with 35 years of experience in the areas of CPU (Central Processing Unit) design, Healthcare, National ID, Banking & Financial Services sectors. He is currently CEO of Khosla Labs, a startup incubator that he co-founded with Vinod Khosla, and chairman of Trustt. A Digital Banking SaaS company. He was on the Board of the HDFC Bank, the worlds 4th largest bank. Srikanth was the founder CTO of Aadhaar, he led the setup of the Aadhaar Technology Center for the development, design and operations of the Aadhaar system to issue a National ID to all the 1.3 billion Indian. He is also the Managing Trustee of the eGovernments Foundation which he co-founded with Nandan Nilekani(Chairman Infosys) in 2003. It focuses on improving governance and public service delivery in Indian cities using a suite of Municipal ERP products. Currently eGov products are deployed in over 2000 cities in India. More recently during the Covid delta wave, Srikanth founded the 10BedICU project, to create ICUs in government hospitals in smaller towns and villages. 10BedICU has created over 200 10BedICUs in 8 states is less than 2yrs. Srikanth has spent 14 years in the Silicon Valley (California, US) working for several global companies such as Sun Microsystems (CPU design), Intel Corporation (CPU design), Silicon Graphics (Interactive TV) and WebMD (Internet Healthcare).

Invited Talk 1 (12:15 - 13:15)

• Title: Fraud in the Cryptocurrency Sphere and Methods to Combat it.
• Speaker: Vladimir Lazarev,
  Head of Development at AML Crypto, Russia
• Bio: Vladimir Lazarev is an expert in blockchain analytics and anti-money laundering practices. Mr Vladimir has Higher Banking Education from the Faculty of Finance and Credit. Currently, he is associated with development of AML Crypto, specializing in investigating cryptocurrency thefts, developing tools for blockchain transaction analysis, user behavior analysis, and identifying individuals behind cryptocurrency addresses. His experience and knowledge will be a valuable addition to the PKIA 2024 conference, fostering discussions and sharing advanced experiences in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency crime.

Lunch and Visit to Exhibition Stall (13:30 - 14:30)

Lightning Talk 1 (14:30 - 14:50)

• Title: Extending digital trust - one mail at a time
• Speaker: Mr. B. Robert Raja
  Chairman & Managing Director, Odyssey Technologies
• Bio: Robert Raja has spent 17+ years in the service of Government of India, the last decade of which was in the Indian Revenue Service. He has led many high profile investigations, even under Intelligence Wing, primarily involving cryptanalysis and related work. He is one of the promoters of Odyssey Technologies, a public company based out of Chennai and has actively engaged in Public Key Infrastructure related solutions since two plus decades. Participated in the global PKI forum as a principal member during its early years. He is a regular speaker in several national and international conferences on cryptography and PKI and has served in Committees related to PKI technology in India. Odyssey Technologies, the company led by him, has pioneered many solutions in the PKI space and boasts of several large scale PKI deployments, globally unique and innovative solutions in the space of authentication and digital signatures.

Lightning Talk 2 (14:50 - 15:10)

• Title: Mobile PKI - Enabling transition to Zero Trust
• Speaker: Mr. Kaushik Srinivasan
  Executive Vice President, E-Mudhra
• Bio: A technology entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of eMudhra • Responsible for building technology platforms that are integral to India’s “Digital PublicInfrastructure” to drive paperless and presence-less way of doing business• Responsible for creating Intellectual properties around cryptographic signatures, PKI, electronic/digital signatures, identity and access management solutions at eMudhra• Has a Masters and Bachelors in Computer Engineering from the USA and is a CFA charterholder
• Speaker: Mr. Sai Prasad K P
  Senior Vice President, E-Mudhra
• Bio: Sai Prasad oversees cybersecurity product development and innovation, including a broad product suite with solutions for certificate management, encryption, IAM, and more at eMudhra. He manages pre-sales, product delivery, and support, delivering products globally, including to Fortune 100 companies. With extensive knowledge in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and experience in digital identities across various sectors, he has established CA/TSP setups worldwide. He's proficient in Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), implementing IAM strategies that balance security and user convenience. Sai Prasad, an MBA from IIM Kozhikode, joined eMudhra in 2008 after nearly a decade at IDRBT, contributing to the PKI domain in banking.

Lightning Talk 3 (15:10 - 15:30)

• Title: Next-Gen PKI Authentication : Secure, Portable, and Future-Ready Solutions
• Speaker: Mr. Santhosh Raju
  Engineer, Thales
• Bio: Santhosh Raju is a seasoned cybersecurity expert with 15+ years of experience, currently leading as a Sales Engineer at Thales. His career spans diverse technologies within the cybersecurity spectrum, starting as a technology consultant and evolving into a key player in shaping robust cybersecurity strategies for leading banks and enterprises. Santhosh is known for his deep technical knowledge, strategic foresight, and hands-on approach to fortifying organizations against evolving cyber threats. As a trusted advisor, he has been instrumental in driving secure digital transformations for clients. His commitment to continuous learning and innovation ensures that he remains at the forefront of industry developments, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to meet the unique challenges of today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Paper Presentation Session 1 (15:45 - 16:45)
Theme: PKI and Cryptography

Invited Talk 2 (16:45 – 17:15)

• Title: Beyond Safety: The Security Imperative in Safety-Critical Systems
• Speaker: Dr. Venkata Tulasiramu Ponnada
  Principal Software Engineer, Collins Aerospace, Melbourne, Florida USA
• Bio: Dr. Venkata Tulasiramu Ponnada is a distinguished Principal Software Engineer with a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering. He is specialized in machine learning and safety-critical systems. Dr. Ponnada's diverse background includes significant contributions to the aerospace industry, where he leveraged his expertise in safety-critical systems to enhance the reliability and safety of complex systems. Transitioning seamlessly from aerospace to healthcare, Dr. Ponnada has applied his deep technical knowledge to advance best-in-class healthcare solutions. He has filed two patents related to clinician decision-support systems, underscoring his commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative technology. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Ponnada is renowned for his philanthropic efforts and dedication to engineering community service. He has actively participated in IEEE and ACM, earning recognition as an IEEE Senior Member and a Fellow of the Engineering Research Council. Dr. Ponnada has also played a pivotal role as a liaison for regulatory standards, including FAA DO-178C and FDA IEC62304, ensuring that these critical guidelines are effectively implemented in complex software systems.

Invited Talk 3 (17:15 – 17:45)

• Title: New Identity Verification Guidelines and Web Trust
• Speaker: Subhash Rao
  Associate Director, Digital Age Strategies Pvt Ltd
• Bio: Shri Subhash Rao is a seasoned Cyber Security and Forensic Auditor with over 30 years of experience in the IT industry. His extensive background spans hardware and software design and development, with a particular focus on managing large-scale turnkey projects, security assessments, and secure development consulting. With more than a decade of expertise in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Subhash is a highly skilled Web Trust Auditor and Certifying Authority Auditor. He has conducted numerous audits both within India and internationally. His broad range of auditing experience includes forensic audits, cybersecurity audits, information security audits, migration audits, data center audits, SOC/NOC audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, as well as source code and functional audits.

Visit to Exhibition Stall (17:45 – 18:30)