A four-day international workshop titled “AI Standards for Increasing the Efficiency of Telecommunications & ICTs: Shaping the Future Responsibly” was inaugurated at the National Communications Academy – Finance (NCA-F) in New Delhi. The initiative aims to foster consensus on building ethical, inclusive and globally harmonised AI standards relevant to the telecommunications and ICT sectors.
Organised in collaboration with a regional office of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and supported by India’s Department of Telecommunications, the event gathered participants from BIMSTEC nations, (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India) and Maldives, along with global experts, regulators, startups, academia and industry associations.
The opening session featured keynote addresses from senior government representatives, regional leaders and officials from international organisations. Shri Manish Sinha, Member (Finance), Digital Communications Commission, DoT, welcomed participants and highlighted the collaborative spirit of the workshop, particularly the benefits of residential interaction in encouraging deeper engagement.
He emphasised the importance of building consensus within international frameworks for developing inclusive AI standards and reiterated India’s commitment to both digital inclusion and responsible AI governance.
He also spoke about India’s dual objective: advancing AI standardisation and bolstering its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Specific mention was made of the Telecommunication Engineering Centre’s efforts in promoting ethical AI through fairness assessments and rating frameworks, as well as the role of TSDSI in contributing to globally aligned and secure technical standards.
The emphasis was placed on supporting a rules-based, transparent approach to AI governance that reflects democratic values and ensures equitable access to innovation for all. Discussions also addressed the growing need for capacity building and shared technical expertise. Speakers acknowledged the importance of inclusivity, sustainability and shared responsibility in shaping AI-driven futures across the region.
Reinforcing the need for multilateral alignment to ensure AI supports sustainable growth across member nations, in a recorded message, Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, stressed the urgency of regional cooperation in standardisation, “Regional collaboration on AI standards is not optional – it is essential for ensuring that emerging technologies serve our collective development goals.”
Ms Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the ITU, noted the shift of AI from research to widespread real-world application, highlighting its projected $15 trillion contribution to the global economy by 2030. She underscored the importance of inclusive, interoperable and trusted AI standards, stating that such frameworks are foundational to innovation, safety and sustainability.
In her welcome remarks, Ms Madhavi Das, Director General of NCA-F, framed standardisation not merely as a technical task but as an ethical obligation. She emphasised the need to prevent exclusion in the age of AI and highlighted the Academy’s collaborative efforts to bridge the global standardisation divide through inclusive stakeholder engagement. Reaffirming India’s cultural ethos of hospitality and mutual learning, she encouraged participative dialogue and equitable contributions from all countries involved.
Over the course of the workshop, participants will engage in simulation exercises, expert panel discussions, technical drafting sessions and site visits. These activities aim to equip attendees with practical skills in negotiating and contributing to the development of international AI standards.
The National Communications Academy – Finance (NCA-F) is a premier Central Training Institute under the Department of Telecommunications, recognised for its excellence by the Department of Personnel & Training. It serves as a key institution for the induction and in-service training of officers from the Indian Posts & Telecom Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), as well as other officials from the telecom and postal departments.
The Academy focuses on core areas such as telecom policy, spectrum management, digital inclusion, financial regulations and revenue assurance. NCA-F also promotes leadership development and regularly hosts national and international workshops in partnership with leading institutions.