The fifth edition of India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF-2025) concluded in New Delhi after two days of rich discussions led by government leaders, global tech companies, civil-society organisations, academia and international bodies. The event, held at the India Habitat Centre and the India International Centre, emphasised strengthening India’s digital future through inclusion, trust, safety and responsible innovation.
Theme and Key Focus Areas
The forum was guided by the theme Advancing Internet Governance for an Inclusive and Sustainable Viksit Bharat, and revolved around three major sub-themes: Inclusive Digital Future, Digital Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Growth and AI for People, Planet and Progress.
Panels and workshops explored rural connectivity, open digital ecosystems, DNS security, cybersecurity preparedness, India’s digital public infrastructure, data protection, content governance, ethical AI, and opportunities for young innovators.
Sessions and Participation
The event hosted four panel discussions and twelve workshops, with participation from the United Nations Internet Governance Forum, Meta, Google Cloud, CCAOI and several leading academic institutions. Discussions positioned India’s digital progress within the global internet governance landscape and highlighted the country’s growing leadership in shaping a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem.
Key Statements from Government and Industry Leaders
Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada highlighted India’s focus on building a safe, affordable and reliable internet for all. He emphasised the role of strong 5G networks, robust digital public systems and the consent-based Data Protection Act in enabling trust and opportunity. He also underlined the shared responsibility of government, industry, academia and civil society in countering cyber risks.
Shri Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY, noted India’s achievements with nearly one billion internet users and the global success of the India Stack. He stressed that large-scale digital adoption also increases responsibility, calling for enhanced trust, safety, resilience and collaborative action against cyberattacks, misinformation and misuse of digital technologies.
Dr Devesh Tyagi, CEO, NIXI, highlighted that IIGF’s strength lies in its multi-stakeholder model, which ensures that every voice contributes to shaping India’s internet evolution. He spotlighted the success of the NIXI Internet Intern Scheme, which has reached over 10,000 students, with many progressing to international roles.
Major Takeaways
Participants highlighted that universal and meaningful access must remain the foundation of India’s digital policies. Strengthening digital public infrastructure, enhancing trust through robust standards and increasing internet resilience across all layers of technology were recognised as national priorities.
The forum closed with a shared commitment to building a safer, more inclusive and resilient internet for India and the world.
About IIGF
The India Internet Governance Forum is the national chapter of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. Formed in 2021, it follows a multi-stakeholder governance model involving government, civil society, academia, the technical community and industry. A 14-member committee steers its initiatives. IIGF-2025 was held on 27–28 November 2025 in New Delhi.
