Minister Scindia Promotes Inclusive, Future-Ready Regulation
At the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2025 in Riyadh, Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, urged regulators around the world to become builders of digital ecosystems instead of merely enforcers of rules. In his virtual address, he shared India’s experience and vision, offering a roadmap for global cooperation in digital governance.
Speaking at the Executive Roundtable themed “What does it take for regulators to become digital ecosystem builders?”, Minister Scindia described India as a model of regulatory reform built on vision, trust, and inclusive innovation.
GSR: A Platform for Global Digital Dialogue
The Global Symposium for Regulators, held annually by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), brings together ICT regulators, industry leaders, and digital experts from more than 190 countries. The 25th edition of the event, GSR-25, took place from 31 August to 3 September in Saudi Arabia under the theme “Regulation for Sustainable Digital Development.”
Calling GSR a space “where wisdom embraces innovation,” Minister Scindia noted that this year’s theme reflects both urgency and hope in addressing global digital challenges.
Three Pillars of Modern Regulation
Minister Scindia laid out three key roles for future regulators:
Proactive ecosystem design – Regulators should go beyond setting rules and help create frameworks for public digital infrastructure and interoperable platforms.
Support for innovation – He recommended the use of regulatory sandboxes to safely test new technologies while protecting users and markets.
Building trust – Regulation must focus on people. That includes user-friendly policies, strong data protection, and effective grievance systems.
He added that regulation today should shape inclusive societies and not just manage networks or enforce laws.
India’s Digital Journey as a Global Example
The Minister highlighted India’s achievements, including:
5G services reaching 99.9% of districts, covering 776 districts and connecting over 300 million people.
High per capita data usage, showing widespread digital adoption.
India’s legal framework has been modernised with the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and Telecom Cybersecurity Rules, 2024, replacing outdated laws. The Digital Bharat Nidhi, a new universal service fund, aims to ensure digital access for all through public-private partnerships.
He also mentioned national initiatives like Aadhaar, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM-WANI, BharatNet, and India Post as real-life examples of digital inclusion. These, he said, are “living arteries of empowerment” that provide services with dignity and reach even the remotest areas.
Shaping Global Digital Futures
Minister Scindia called for international cooperation to harmonise spectrum bands, lower costs, and build disaster-resilient green networks. He also proposed a Digital Consumer Charter to promote fairness and transparency across borders.
On Artificial Intelligence, he stressed the need for balanced regulation. India’s IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024 with ₹10,371.92 crore (USD 1.2 billion), reflects this goal—supporting innovation while protecting users and upholding ethics.
The Minister concluded with a powerful message: “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 role at GSR 2025 reaffirmed its position as a global digital leader—championing regulation that is inclusive, forward-looking, and rooted in trust.
with inputs from Reuters