India pushes telecom leadership at ITU Council meet, eyes hosting rights for PP
India strengthened its position in the global telecommunications and digital policy landscape during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council 2026 meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 28 to May 8.
An Indian delegation led by Mukesh Kumar, Deputy Director General (International Relations), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), actively participated in key discussions related to global telecom governance and digital cooperation.
During the meeting, India presented its proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030), one of the organisation’s most significant global conferences. According to the DoT, the ITU Council accepted India’s proposal, marking a major milestone in the country’s expanding role in shaping international telecom and digital policy discourse.
The proposal is expected to receive final approval at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, in November this year.
The Indian delegation, along with the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations office in Geneva, also made interventions on several important issues including ITU regional presence, ITU membership, and the organisation of ITU events.
As part of its campaign for upcoming ITU elections, India hosted a networking reception at the ITU premises on April 30, 2026, which saw participation from representatives of 69 member states. During the event, India presented its candidature for re-election to the ITU Council and for the post of Director, Radiocommunication Bureau (BR). India’s candidate for the position, Dr Revathi Mannepalli, shared her vision for the future of the ITU’s radio communication sector.
On the sidelines of the Council meeting, the Indian delegation also held 15 bilateral meetings with member states to strengthen engagement and seek support for India’s candidatures in the ITU elections.
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia virtually addressed the Council on May 8 and announced India’s voluntary contribution towards the implementation of World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) resolutions related to 6G, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, and sustainable digital transformation.
The contribution is expected to further strengthen India’s role in telecom standardisation and global digital development initiatives while creating future leadership opportunities within the ITU framework.
The ITU Council serves as the governing body of the ITU and comprises 48 elected member states. It meets annually in Geneva to oversee the organisation’s strategy, policies, budget, and financial management. India has been a member of the ITU Council since 1952.
