Scindia Chairs Roundtable with State IT Ministers to Accelerate Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity Reforms

Centre–State collaboration to drive India’s digital inclusion and public goods ecosystem

New Delhi, October 9: Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Minister of State Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Secretary (Telecom) Dr Neeraj Mittal, chaired a high-level Roundtable Conference with State IT Ministers and IT Secretaries on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The conference served as a key platform for Centre–State collaboration aimed at accelerating digital infrastructure development, expanding broadband access, and strengthening India’s digital public goods ecosystem. Discussions centered on the rollout of 4G and 5G networks in rural and remote areas, the promotion of indigenous technologies, and the swift implementation of Right-of-Way (RoW) reforms under the new Telecommunication Right-of-Way Rules 2025.

‘From Regulators to Facilitators’: Scindia on India’s Digital Transformation

Addressing the session, Scindia highlighted India’s emergence as a global digital powerhouse, driven by record growth in internet connectivity, broadband penetration, and data affordability.

“India has risen like a phoenix in the space of telecom, digital inclusion, and equipment manufacturing on the world stage. Our journey from being regulators to becoming facilitators is enabling us to deliver the much-required connectivity, inclusion, and equity to every single citizen,” he said.

He noted that the digital economy’s share in GDP is expected to reach 20% by 2029–30, underscoring the need for unified action by both the Centre and States. The minister urged states to adopt best practices, expedite RoW approvals, and ensure that digital inclusion extends to every village and household.

“We must seize this opportunity together to build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital ecosystem,” Scindia added.

Right-of-Way Reforms Key to Connectivity Goals

Minister of State Dr Chandra S. Pemmasani called for the swift operationalisation of RoW reforms, emphasizing their role in enabling the success of the National Broadband Mission 2.0. He detailed key provisions of the new rules—single-window clearances, time-bound approvals, uniform cost-based charges, and infrastructure sharing—to ease network deployment.

“History will not ask whether we had the technology, it will ask whether we had the will. The vision of universal, affordable, and high-quality broadband for all is within our reach,” he said.

States’ Role Crucial in Implementation

Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), underlined that while telecom is a central subject, its execution is inherently state-driven. He stressed the importance of coordination on issues like land allocation, tower sites, and local law and order.

“Nothing can happen without state cooperation on the ground. This forum is invaluable for receiving feedback from state ministers and secretaries, and for jointly enabling telecom as a horizontal technology powering every sector of economic development,” he said.

Shared Vision for a Digital Bharat

The Roundtable concluded with a shared commitment to remove bottlenecks, strengthen collaboration, and ensure that digital connectivity reaches every citizen across India. Officials reaffirmed that seamless cooperation between the Centre and States is vital to achieving India’s vision of a robust, secure, and inclusive digital economy.