India Showcases Digital Regulation Model at GSR 2025; Scindia Calls for Regulators to Become Ecosystem Builders
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia speaks virtually at the GSR 2025 Executive Roundtable in Riyadh, addressing the session from New Delhi on Monday.
Riyadh/New Delhi, September 2: India positioned itself as a global model of regulatory innovation at the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2025, with Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia urging regulators worldwide to evolve from gatekeepers into builders of inclusive digital ecosystems.
Speaking virtually at the Executive Roundtable in Riyadh, Scindia said, “Regulation is not a fence to restrict—it is a garden to be nurtured. 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 Three-Dimensional Approach
The Minister outlined three dimensions of the regulator’s new role:
- Proactive ecosystem design — enabling public digital infrastructure and interoperable platforms.
- Catalysing innovation — through regulatory sandboxes that balance experimentation with user safety.
- Embedding trust — via citizen-centric policies, grievance redressal, and robust data protection standards.
Scindia said India’s journey—from the rollout of 5G to universal digital identity and direct benefit transfers—demonstrates how regulation can seed empowerment. With 5G now covering 99.9% of districts and 300 million users, India also leads the world in per capita data usage.
Policy Reform for the Digital Age
Highlighting key reforms, the Minister pointed to the Telecommunications Act 2023 and Telecom Cybersecurity Rules 2024, which replaced colonial-era laws with a framework for the AI and quantum age. The Digital Bharat Nidhi, a universal service fund, was cited as an example of public-private collaboration ensuring last-mile equity.
He also called for global spectrum harmonization, green and disaster-resilient networks, and a Digital Consumer Charter as an international benchmark for fairness and trust.
Balancing AI Innovation and Risk
On artificial intelligence, Scindia emphasized a balanced approach: open to innovation but vigilant on safety, ethics, and inclusion. He cited the IndiaAI Mission 2024, a ₹10,371 crore programme, as proof of India’s commitment to shaping AI for public good.
India’s Leadership in Digital Regulation
From Aadhaar and Jan Dhan Yojana to BharatNet and PM-WANI, Scindia said India’s digital public infrastructure exemplifies how regulation can be a driver of empowerment. “These are not just programs,” he remarked, “they are living arteries of opportunity.”
With over 190 countries participating, GSR 2025 marked India’s emergence as both the world’s largest digital society and a thought leader in global regulatory innovation.
