The fifth edition of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF), the national chapter of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), will be held in the national capital on November 27 and 28, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said on Wednesday. The two-day multistakeholder forum will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
According to the ministry, the first day of the forum will take place at the India Habitat Centre, while the second day’s sessions will be held at the India International Centre. Senior officials, including MeitY Joint Secretary Sushil Pal and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) Chief Executive Officer Dr Devesh Tyagi, are expected to attend the proceedings.
The forum is expected to see participation from a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from government departments, technology companies, civil society organisations, academic institutions and policy experts. The event follows a multistakeholder model, giving equal space to government, industry, civil society, technical communities and academia to deliberate on internet-related public policy issues.
MeitY stated that the objective of the IIGF is to bring diverse stakeholders together to discuss the future direction of India’s internet ecosystem and to identify policy and governance areas that require focused attention. Since its establishment in 2021, the forum has served as a platform for open and inclusive dialogue on internet governance challenges and opportunities in the country.
The theme for this year’s edition is “Advancing Internet Governance for an Inclusive and Sustainable Viksit Bharat.” Discussions will be structured around three key sub-themes: Inclusive Digital Future; Digital Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Growth; and AI for People, Planet and Progress. A significant focus will be placed on the safe, responsible and meaningful use of artificial intelligence.
Speakers and participants from the UN IGF, Meta, Google Cloud, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and leading academic institutions will take part in the deliberations. The two-day programme will include four panel discussions and twelve workshops, designed to facilitate in-depth sectoral, policy-level and community-based conversations.
The ministry noted that the IIGF is overseen by a 14-member committee comprising individuals from different stakeholder groups, ensuring balanced representation and collaborative decision-making. Through its discussions and workshops, the forum aims to strengthen dialogue on digital governance and contribute to shaping India’s approach to an inclusive, secure and sustainable internet ecosystem.
