Strengthening Trust and Security in the Internet Ecosystem: Insights from IT Secretary

New Delhi, June 20: On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), S. Krishnan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), emphasized the need to enhance trust, resilience, and security within the internet ecosystem.

During an event held in the national capital, he launched four new digital initiatives, highlighting NIXI’s significant role in strengthening India’s internet infrastructure and increasing the country’s participation in global internet governance issues.

The newly introduced digital services include the IX Portal, MyIRINN Portal, Dot In Auction Portal, and an AI-powered WHOIS screening platform. These initiatives aim to improve user experience, enhance transparency, and make operations within the country’s internet ecosystem more effective.

According to NIXI, the AI-based WHOIS screening platform will help bolster domain name security and enhance the ability to identify suspicious websites. This will contribute to making India’s “.in” domain space more secure.

The event also honored various organizations and stakeholders that have made significant contributions to strengthening India’s internet ecosystem and developing the country’s digital infrastructure.

Samiran Gupta, Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement at ICANN and Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific region, stressed the importance of enhancing India’s participation in discussions related to global internet governance and standard-setting. He noted that initiatives like the NIXI Fellowship Program are preparing new leadership to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the internet.

Meanwhile, NIXI’s CEO, Devesh Tyagi, stated that the success of the next phase of the internet in India will depend on three key factors: trust, innovation, and ensuring participation from people across all regions of the country. He emphasized that the development of the internet will only be meaningful if everyone can participate equally.

According to official statements, NIXI currently manages over 3.9 million “.in” domain names. Additionally, the organization operates 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across the country and offers domain registration services in 22 Indian languages.

NIXI is also working to promote IPv6 technology, with the adoption rate in India currently reaching approximately 78.34 percent.