Global Internet leaders, policymakers, technical experts and industry representatives have gathered in Mumbai for the ICANN85 Community Forum to discuss strengthening a secure, resilient and inclusive Internet ecosystem. The forum, organised by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in collaboration with the National Internet Exchange of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is being held from 7 to 12 March 2026 at the Jio Convention Center.
The event brings together stakeholders from governments, private sector organisations, the technical community and civil society to deliberate on the future of Internet governance and the evolving challenges associated with maintaining a stable and secure global Internet.
The official welcome ceremony on 9 March brought together senior government officials and global Internet leaders including S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra; Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Devesh Tyagi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Internet Exchange of India; Tripti Sinha, Chair of the ICANN Board; Kurtis Lindqvist, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN; and Samiran Gupta, Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region at ICANN.
Addressing the gathering, S Krishnan highlighted the growing importance of the Internet as a critical global infrastructure supporting economies, governance, innovation and daily life. He said that as digital adoption expands worldwide, it is essential for governments and global stakeholders to collaborate to ensure the Internet remains open, secure, resilient and inclusive.
S Krishnan also underlined the importance of platforms such as ICANN in bringing together diverse stakeholders to strengthen the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. He noted that India remains committed to contributing to global efforts aimed at building trusted digital infrastructure that supports innovation, cooperation and meaningful participation across regions.
Rajesh Aggarwal emphasised that the Internet has become a central pillar of economic growth, governance and everyday communication. He said that forums such as ICANN85 provide an important opportunity for governments, technical experts and industry stakeholders to collaborate and ensure that the Internet continues to remain accessible, secure and supportive of innovation and development across regions.
Tripti Sinha highlighted the growing importance of maintaining the stability and integrity of the Internet in an increasingly complex global environment. She stressed that Internet governance must remain transparent, accountable and guided by a shared commitment to ensuring that the global network reflects the diverse communities it serves.
Kurtis Lindqvist said the forum aims to achieve meaningful progress on priorities identified by the global Internet community. He encouraged participants, particularly those new to ICANN discussions, to actively contribute ideas and perspectives that can help shape future policy decisions and strengthen global cooperation.
The ICANN85 Community Forum includes more than 200 sessions involving representatives from governments, industry, academia, civil society and technical communities from across the world. Discussions during the forum focus on several critical aspects of Internet governance and infrastructure.
Key topics being discussed include the continued evolution of the Domain Name System, cybersecurity practices and preparations for the upcoming expansion of generic top level domains. Participants are also examining ways to strengthen collaboration across the global Internet ecosystem to maintain stability and security while supporting innovation.
A major theme of the forum is the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, which enables governments, private sector entities, technical experts and civil society organisations to jointly develop policies, implement solutions and ensure the reliable operation of the global Internet.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers plays a central role in coordinating the unique identifiers that enable the Internet to function as a unified global network. Established in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation, the organisation works with stakeholders around the world to maintain a stable and secure Internet infrastructure.
The National Internet Exchange of India, which is hosting the forum in collaboration with ICANN, is a not for profit organisation functioning under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The organisation plays a key role in strengthening India’s Internet infrastructure by facilitating efficient domestic Internet traffic exchange, managing the .IN and .भारत country code top level domains and promoting wider adoption of Internet services across the country.
Officials said the ICANN85 Community Forum provides an important platform for strengthening international cooperation and shaping the policies that will guide the future of the Internet, ensuring that it remains secure, stable and accessible to users across the world.
