New Delhi, Nov 28: The fifth edition of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF-2025) concluded in the capital on Friday, outlining a shared national vision for an open, trusted and inclusive internet ecosystem. Over two days, representatives from central ministries, technology companies, civil society organisations, academia and international bodies met at the India Habitat Centre and the India International Centre to discuss internet governance priorities for a rapidly digitising India.
Held under the theme “Advancing Internet Governance for an Inclusive and Sustainable Viksit Bharat”, the forum examined three central tracks — Inclusive Digital Future, Digital Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Growth, and AI for People, Planet and Progress. Four panel discussions and twelve workshops explored issues ranging from rural connectivity and digital public infrastructure to cybersecurity readiness, domain name management, data protection, ethical AI and opportunities for young innovators.
Speakers from the United Nations Internet Governance Forum, Meta, Google Cloud, the CCAOI and academic institutions participated, offering both domestic and global perspectives on strengthening India’s digital ecosystem.
Government emphasises collaboration and cyber resilience
In his inaugural address, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said India’s digital progress depended on multi-stakeholder cooperation. “Our focus is to give every citizen safe, affordable and reliable access to the internet,” he said, citing the role of expanding 5G coverage, robust digital public systems and a consent-based data protection framework.
He stressed that cyber risks in a country of India’s scale could not be addressed by government alone. “Industry, academia and civil society all have a part to play in building a safer online space,” he added.
Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary at MeitY, said the forum reflects both India’s digital achievements and the emerging challenges associated with AI. With nearly one billion Indians online, he said, the India Stack had become a population-scale model globally. “Such scale entails greater responsibility,” he cautioned, calling for stronger trust, safety and resilience measures to counter cyberattacks, misinformation and misuse of technology.
Strengthening institutional mechanisms
NIXI CEO Devesh Tyagi highlighted IIGF’s role in reinforcing India’s multi-stakeholder internet governance model. He noted that special interest groups focusing on the future of the internet, domain names and technical standards were helping build sustained expertise.
He also said the NIXI Internet Intern Scheme had reached more than 10,000 students in the past year, with several securing international roles, many in policy-related areas.
Focus on access, digital infrastructure and trust
Across sessions, participants stressed that universal, meaningful access must remain central to India’s digital trajectory. Strengthening digital public infrastructure, improving cybersecurity foundations and building public trust through strong standards and coordinated action emerged as key priorities.
The forum concluded with a collective commitment to advancing a safer, more inclusive and resilient internet for India and contributing to global internet governance efforts.
About IIGF
The India Internet Governance Forum is the national chapter of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. Established in 2021, it follows a multi-stakeholder model involving government, civil society, industry, the technical community and academia. A 14-member committee from diverse sectors guides its work.
IIGF-2025 was held on November 27–28 in New Delhi.
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