Mumbai, Mar 10: The ICANN85 Community Forum, organized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and hosted in collaboration with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has brought together global Internet stakeholders in Mumbai to discuss ways to strengthen an open, secure, inclusive, and resilient global Internet ecosystem.
The forum is being held from 7–12 March 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, hosting more than 200 sessions featuring governments, industry leaders, technical experts, and civil society participants from around the world.
The official welcome ceremony brought together senior government officials and Internet leaders, including S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY; Rajesh Aggarwal; Sushil Pal; Devesh Tyagi; Tripti Sinha; Kurtis Lindqvist; and Samiran Gupta.
Speaking at the ceremony, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, emphasized the growing importance of the Internet as a critical global infrastructure supporting economies, innovation, public services, and everyday life. He highlighted the need for continued collaboration among governments, industry, and the technical community to ensure the Internet remains open, secure, resilient, and inclusive.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra, noted that the Internet plays a central role in economic growth, governance, and daily life. He emphasized that forums like ICANN provide an important platform for governments, industry leaders, and experts to collaborate on ensuring that the Internet remains accessible, secure, and supportive of innovation.
Tripti Sinha, Chair of the ICANN Board, underscored the importance of maintaining the stability and integrity of the Internet amid a rapidly evolving global landscape. She stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and collective commitment to ensure that the Internet continues to serve diverse communities worldwide.
Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO, highlighted the importance of practical progress and collaboration during the week-long discussions, encouraging broader participation from diverse regions and perspectives within the global Internet community.
Throughout the forum, participants are engaging in discussions on critical topics related to the stable and secure operation of the Internet, including the evolution of the Domain Name System (DNS), cybersecurity best practices, and the upcoming expansion of generic top-level domains (gTLDs).
The discussions also emphasize the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, which enables governments, private sector organizations, technical experts, and civil society to collaborate in shaping policies and solutions that support a globally interoperable Internet.
The ICANN85 Community Forum represents an important opportunity for stakeholders worldwide to exchange ideas, strengthen cooperation, and ensure the continued stability and resilience of the global Internet infrastructure.
