India Reaffirms Digital Leadership at UN WSIS+20, Calls for Inclusive Tech Future

The WSIS+20 Review in 2025 marks a comprehensive assessment of two decades of progress, identifying achievements, challenges, and priorities for an increasingly digital world.

At the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the WSIS+20 Review held on 16 December 2025 in New York, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT, Shri Jitin Prasada, delivered India’s national statement, underscoring the country’s commitment to inclusive digital transformation and global cooperation in emerging technologies.

WSIS+20: Two Decades of Global Digital Cooperation

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), first mandated by the UNGA in 2001, aimed to harness knowledge and digital technology for universal development. Conducted in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005), WSIS laid the foundation for global digital cooperation.

The WSIS+20 Review in 2025 marks a comprehensive assessment of two decades of progress, identifying achievements, challenges, and priorities for an increasingly digital world. The review builds upon the WSIS+10 process held in 2015.

India’s Digital Journey: Transformation at Population Scale

In his address, Shri Prasada highlighted India’s unparalleled digital transformation, noting that the country’s success is rooted in the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as an open, interoperable, secure, and affordable public good.

He emphasized that platforms for digital identity (Aadhaar), instant payments (UPI), digital documentation (DigiLocker), telemedicine (eSanjeevani), online education, and grievance redressal now serve citizens across geographies, languages, and socio-economic groups. India’s model, he said, demonstrates how technology can effectively empower “the last mile and the last person.”

Recalling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message that “global challenges demand that global action must match global ambition,” he noted that India’s digital ecosystem is a testament to scalability, trust, and inclusivity.

Championing Digital Public Goods for the World

Shri Prasada highlighted India’s launch of the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository during its G20 Presidency—an effort to enable countries worldwide to adopt, adapt, and scale digital public goods. This reflects India’s core philosophy of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

India reaffirmed its readiness to share tools, capacity, and best practices with partner nations, ensuring that digitalization becomes an equaliser rather than a divider.

Emerging Technologies: IndiaAI Mission and Global AI Cooperation

The Minister stated that Artificial Intelligence will be a key driver of sustainable development in the decades ahead. Under the IndiaAI Mission, the country is investing in:

• Responsible AI frameworks and governance

• Expansion of national compute capacity

• AI Kosh, a repository of reusable datasets

• Bhashini, a multilingual AI-enabled real-time translation platform supporting India’s diverse languages

He also announced India’s proposal for a Global Repository of AI Applications, focused on using AI for public good, climate action, governance, health, and education.

Strengthening Digital and Semiconductor Supply Chains

Recognising that resilient electronics and semiconductor ecosystems are foundational to global digital progress, Shri Prasada outlined India’s push to:

• Build domestic semiconductor capability

• Strengthen global partnerships

• Enhance supply chain resilience for AI and advanced technologies

This, he noted, is essential for global stability and innovation at scale.

Upholding an Open, Secure, and Inclusive Internet

Reiterating India’s strong support for the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, except in matters involving national security, Shri Prasada emphasised:

• Strengthening the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

• Advancing Universal Acceptance and multilingual access

• Promoting open standards and digital inclusivity

• Ensuring DNS stability

• Enhancing participation of the Global South in global digital policy

He noted that trust forms the bedrock of the digital ecosystem, requiring a delicate balance between innovation, safety, privacy, human rights, and sustainability.

Looking Ahead: IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026

The Minister invited all nations to participate in the IndiaAI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026, guided by the principle:“Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” — Welfare of All, Happiness for All.

Acknowledgements and the Road Forward

Shri Prasada concluded by appreciating the leadership of Kenya’s Permanent Representative Mr. Ekitela Lokaale and Albania’s Permanent Representative Ms. Suela Janina in developing the WSIS+20 outcome document.

He described WSIS+20 as a defining opportunity to shape a digital future where technology bridges divides rather than deepens them.India, he reaffirmed, stands committed to working with all nations to build an inclusive, secure, and equitable global digital ecosystem where no one is left behind.