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ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai: A Platform for Global Internet Governance

The 85th meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN85) is set to take place from March 7-12, 2026, in the vibrant city of Mumbai, India. This significant event is organized under the auspices of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). With over a billion internet users and a burgeoning digital economy, India provides an ideal backdrop for global participants to converge and collaborate at the ICANN85 Community Forum.

A Call to Internet Stakeholders

Samiran Gupta, ICANN's Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement, expressed his enthusiasm about the forum, stating, "Ten years after the public ICANN meeting in Hyderabad, ICANN85 presents a unique opportunity for the Indian internet community to engage in a global dialogue surrounding vital internet governance issues." Mr. Gupta also thanked NIXI for their role in bringing ICANN85 to Mumbai, looking forward to fruitful discussions that will shape the future of internet governance.

Shri S. Krishnan, IAS, Secretary of the MeitY and Chairman of NIXI, emphasized India’s commitment to an open, secure, inclusive, and resilient internet. He remarked, "Hosting ICANN85 reflects India’s dedication to the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance and fosters policies that promote innovation, inclusion, and trust in the global internet ecosystem."

Key Topics at ICANN85

A focal point of discussions at ICANN85 will be the new Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program, the ICANN community's role in promoting a multilingual internet, and the multi-stakeholder model that guides these endeavors. This event comes at a pivotal time, just ahead of the next application round for the gTLD program scheduled to commence in April. This program represents a significant expansion of the Domain Name System (DNS), allowing businesses, communities, governments, and other organizations to apply for new top-level domains tailored specifically to their needs and interests.

During the event, participants will receive crucial updates regarding the upcoming application round and the associated processes. The new gTLD program is instrumental in advancing ICANN's vision for 2030 as a trusted steward of internet identifier systems, fostering a singular and globally interoperable internet for all. This truly multilingual internet approach aligns with the Indian government’s emphasis on broadening internet access throughout the nation.

The Significance of ICANN85

ICANN85 marks the first public session of ICANN since the adoption of the WSIS+20 outcome document by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025. The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 20-year review reaffirmed that the internet is a shared global resource, the stability, openness, and interoperability of which relies on the multi-stakeholder model—a stance strongly supported by both ICANN and the Indian government.

WSIS+20 was more of a reaffirmation than a conclusion, highlighting the necessity to continue the work of the multi-stakeholder model, bringing new voices and expertise into the internet governance ecosystem, strengthening knowledge transfer and capacity building, and sustaining engagement through forums such as the public ICANN meetings.

Acknowledging Excellence in the ICANN Community

In line with tradition, the ICANN Community Excellence Award will be presented during the welcome ceremony on March 9, 2026. This accolade honors community members who have made significant contributions to consensus-based solutions and have played a crucial role in enhancing the multi-stakeholder model of ICANN.

Registration and Participation

Registration for in-person attendance is open until March 6, 2026. Note that on-site registration will not be available. Participation is free and open to all interested parties. For further details and registration, attendees can visit the session’s official website.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to ensure a stable, secure, and unified global internet. To connect with someone online, it is crucial to utilize an address—a name or number—on your device. This address must be unique so that computers can locate each other accurately. ICANN aids in the coordination and support of these unique identifiers worldwide, having been established as a non-profit organization with participants from all corners of the globe in 1998.

About NIXI

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a non-profit organization created under the MeitY, and plays a vital role in strengthening India's internet infrastructure by facilitating the efficient exchange of domestic internet traffic. NIXI manages country code top-level domains such as .IN and .भारत (.Bharat) and promotes the adoption of internet services across the nation. Through its initiatives, NIXI supports a secure, resilient, and inclusive internet ecosystem aligned with India's digital growth ambitions.