New Delhi: In a virtual address at the 25th International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2025 held from 31 August to 3 September in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, called for a transformative approach to digital regulation. Speaking on the theme “Regulation for Sustainable Digital Development,” Minister Scindia urged regulators worldwide to evolve from gatekeepers to architects of inclusive digital ecosystems.
Key Dimensions of Modern Regulatory Roles: GSR
Addressing a global audience of ICT regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders, Minister Scindia articulated three core functions essential for regulators as digital ecosystem builders:
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Proactive Ecosystem Design: Moving beyond reactive rule-making to enabling frameworks that foster public digital infrastructure and interoperable platforms.
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Catalyzing Innovation: Facilitating regulatory sandboxes to allow safe testing of new technologies without compromising safety or market stability.
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Embedding Trust: Prioritizing citizen-centric policies, robust grievance redressal, and strong data protection to build trust at the heart of the digital economy.
India’s Exemplary Regulatory Model and Digital Growth
Minister Scindia highlighted India’s impressive 5G rollout with 99.9% district coverage across 776 districts, connecting over 300 million users and attaining the highest per capita data consumption globally. Legislative reforms, including the Telecommunications Act 2023 and Telecom Cybersecurity Rules 2024, have modernized India’s legal framework, facilitating this digital leap.
Initiatives like Aadhaar, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM-WANI, BharatNet, and India Post were cited as integral digital public infrastructure—“living arteries of empowerment” linking citizens to opportunities.
Global Regulatory Proposals and AI Governance
Scindia emphasized the need for global harmonization of spectrum allocation, cost rationalization, and establishment of disaster-resilient, green digital networks. He proposed a Digital Consumer Charter as an international benchmark to ensure transparency, fairness, and consumer rights in digital services.
Recognizing the dual-edged nature of artificial intelligence, India advocates balanced AI regulation that simultaneously fosters innovation and safeguards safety, ethics, and inclusion. The IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024 with a ₹10,371.92 crore (USD 1.2 billion) budget, embodies this approach.
Vision for Inclusive Digital Empowerment, Calling for Global Shift
Summarizing India’s regulatory philosophy, Minister Scindia stated, “Regulation is no longer about issuing licenses or enforcing penalties—it is about laying down vision, building trust, and shaping future-ready societies.” He added, “If we succeed, we will not merely connect people—we will empower them. We will not just build networks—we will build nations.”
India’s participation at GSR 2025 reaffirmed its stature as a digital powerhouse and a global thought leader committed to secure, inclusive, and harmonized digital governance.
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Source: PIB
