The fifth India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF‑2025) concluded in New Delhi after two days of multi‑stakeholder deliberations focused on building an open, trusted and inclusive internet ecosystem for a “Viksit Bharat”. Held at the India Habitat Centre and India International Centre, the forum brought together officials from central ministries, global tech firms, civil‑society organisations, universities and international bodies, including the UN Internet Governance Forum.
Themes: inclusion, infrastructure and AI
Guided by the theme “Advancing Internet Governance for an Inclusive and Sustainable Viksit Bharat”, discussions were organised around three pillars: Inclusive Digital Future, Digital Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Growth, and AI for People, Planet and Progress. Four panel discussions and twelve workshops examined issues such as rural connectivity, digital public infrastructure, DNS and domain‑name security, cybersecurity readiness, data protection, content moderation and ethical deployment of artificial intelligence.
Government’s vision on access and safety
In his inaugural address, Union MoS for Electronics & IT Jitin Prasada said the forum underscored that digital progress depends on collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society. He highlighted India’s push for safe, affordable and reliable internet access for every citizen, backed by nationwide 5G rollout, robust digital public systems and a consent‑based Data Protection Act, while stressing that managing cyber risks is a shared responsibility.
Building trust, resilience and multi-stakeholder governance
MeitY Joint Secretary Sushil Pal noted that with close to one billion Indians online, the India Stack has become a population‑scale model for both the Global South and developed economies, but that such scale demands stronger safeguards for trust, safety and resilience. He called for coordinated work across different layers of internet technologies to counter cyberattacks, misinformation and misuse of digital tools, ensuring a secure yet open network trusted by users.
NIXI perspective and youth engagement
NIXI CEO Dr Devesh Tyagi underlined that IIGF is built on the belief that India’s internet story must be shaped through the multi‑stakeholder model, giving space for every voice. He pointed to special‑interest groups on future internet, domain names, numbers and protocols, and noted that the NIXI Internet Intern scheme has reached over 10,000 students in a year, with many now engaging in international internet‑governance processes and securing roles abroad.
Outcomes and shared commitments
Across sessions, participants agreed that universal, meaningful access must remain central to India’s digital trajectory, alongside stronger digital public infrastructure and clear, responsible approaches to AI. The forum closed with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation across stakeholders to build a safer, more inclusive and resilient internet for India and to contribute to global internet‑governance debates.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
