The India Internet Governance Forum 2025 wrapped up in New Delhi this week with fresh emphasis on domain name infrastructure, numbering systems, and responsible AI deployment—signaling that India’s policymakers are starting to take digital namespace governance seriously.
The forum brought together government officials, tech leaders, and civil society groups to discuss how India manages its growing internet infrastructure. Domain names got more airtime than usual, with sessions focusing on expanding .in adoption, improving DNS security across regional networks, and addressing cybersquatting issues targeting Indian brands and local businesses.
Numbering systems—essentially how IP addresses and telecom resources get allocated—also featured prominently. India’s rapidly expanding internet user base (over 800 million people) is putting pressure on existing infrastructure, and the forum highlighted coordination challenges between telecom operators, internet service providers, and domain registries.
The responsible AI angle tied into domain governance through discussions on preventing AI-driven domain abuse, automated cybersquatting operations, and protecting brand integrity as AI tools make it easier to generate convincing phishing domains at scale.
What This Means
India’s growing attention to domain governance matters for anyone doing business in the region. The country represents one of the world’s largest internet markets, but domain infrastructure has historically lagged behind adoption rates.
If this forum translates into actual policy changes—stricter UDRP enforcement for .in domains, better coordination between registrars and law enforcement, or incentives for local businesses to adopt .in—Western brands and domain investors will need to adjust their India strategies accordingly.
