In a major step to strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard sensitive government information, the Jammu and Kashmir Administration has imposed an immediate ban on the use of USB and pen drives in all official devices. The order covers every government office, including the Civil Secretariat, Deputy Commissioner Offices, and district-level administrative units.

The administration emphasized that GovDrive, a secure cloud-based storage platform, must be used for official data handling, file sharing, and storage.

See Order Copy Click Here…….

Why Has J&K Banned USB Drives?

The order highlights rising risks of data breaches, malware attacks, and unauthorized access through external storage devices. By banning pen drives, the government aims to:

• Strengthen the cybersecurity posture of the Union Territory
• Prevent data leaks and misuse of confidential information
• Ensure secure handling of classified technical data

Officials warned that violations of the order will attract strict disciplinary action under IT and administrative conduct rules.

Exceptions Allowed with Strict Approval

In rare cases where operational needs demand pen drive usage, a department may request controlled whitelisting of up to 2–3 devices. The process involves:

1. Submitting a formal request via the Administrative Head to the State Informatics Officer (SIO), National Informatics Centre (NIC).
2. Approved pen drives must be physically submitted to the NIC Cell for configuration, authorization, and ownership registration before use.

GovDrive: The Official Secure Alternative

All departments are directed to switch to GovDrive, a government-approved cloud platform offering 50 GB of secure storage per user with centralized access across devices.

Step-by-Step GovDrive Registration

1. Create a Parichay account (mandatory).
2. Visit GovDrive Official Portal.
3. Click Login and authenticate using Parichay credentials.
4. Complete Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
5. Submit registration request and wait for approval within 24 hours.
6. Once approved, log in again with Parichay credentials to access the GovDrive dashboard.

This platform ensures end-to-end encryption, real-time synchronization, and secure sharing, making it the only authorized method for data storage and exchange.

Ban on WhatsApp & Unsecured Services

The J&K Government has also prohibited the use of WhatsApp, iLovePDF, and other public or unsecured platforms for processing or sharing official documents.

Classified materials, including:

• ICT architecture diagrams
• Vulnerability assessments
• IP addressing schemes
• Strategic technology plans

…must only be shared via GovDrive and approved secure channels, in compliance with directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), CERT-In, and departmental security policies.

Strict Warning Against Violations

The administration has made it clear that any non-compliance will result in disciplinary action, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on cybersecurity breaches. Departments are urged to prioritize the implementation of these guidelines immediately for safe and secure e-Governance.