The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) marked the successful completion of one year of its Internet Governance Internship & Capacity Building Scheme (IGICBS) with a commemorative event held in New Delhi on 19th January 2026

The milestone event celebrated a year of focused efforts towards building awareness, skills, and leadership in the field of internet governance among India’s young digital talent. The initiative has brought together students, academic institutions, and policymakers to strengthen India’s participation in global internet governance processes.

The event was graced by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), as the Chief Guest. The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, IAS, CEO, UIDAI; Shri Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY; and Dr Devesh Tyagi, CEO, NIXI, along with interns, professors, university and college deans, senior officials from MeitY, IT students, and academic leaders from institutions across the country.

The IGICBS portal was officially launched, and the IGICBS Impact Report was unveiled, highlighting the programme’s progress and key milestones achieved over the past year.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, IAS, CEO, UIDAI said: “When we first conceptualised this initiative, internet governance was still a relatively less explored domain for many, and the objective was to create a strong pool of informed volunteers and future ambassadors for India. It is encouraging to hear from interns that the programme has been meaningful, and that mentorship has played a key role in shaping their learning journey. I urge all participants to remain connected with this ecosystem beyond the internship,and carry forward the learnings, and to strengthen India’s presence in regional and global internet governance forums.”

Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said: “The internet has evolved from a space driven by early volunteerism into a critical backbone of our economic and social infrastructure. As digital adoption deepens, it becomes equally important to ensure a safer, more resilient and trustworthy internet for everyone. Initiatives like IGICBS are vital in building an informed and committed community of young professionals who can engage meaningfully in national and global internet governance forums and represent India’s interests. I congratulate all participants and encourage them to stay connected to this ecosystem well beyond the programme.”

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY, said: “When we launched this programme nearly a year ago, it was a first-of-its-kind effort and we were keen to see how it would evolve. It is encouraging to witness a strong cohort of young professionals from technology, legal and public policy backgrounds coming together to understand the governance of the internet. I urge participants to stay engaged with this ecosystem—even beyond the internship—and become ambassadors of internet governance within academia and industry. With India’s vast young talent pool, we must significantly strengthen our participation in global standards and technical forums.”

Speaking on the occasion, Devesh Tyagi, Chief Executive Officer, NIXI, said: “As we mark one year of IGICBS, the initiative has emerged as a strong platform connecting policy, technology, and academia through expert-led learning and mentorship. Over the past year, we have engaged and trained 10,000+ participants, strengthening youth participation and India’s role in the global internet governance ecosystem.”

The event reaffirmed NIXI’s continued focus on academic collaboration, youth engagement, and capacity building in areas critical to India’s digital future. The IGICBS programme aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision of fostering a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem through knowledge-led initiatives.

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