**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Communications NCAF, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), hosted a four-day workshop in New Delhi on AI standards for telecommunications ICTs. The workshop, attended by BIMSTEC nations and global experts, aimed to develop ethical, inclusive, and globally harmonized AI standards. India aims to lead in AI standardization and manufacturing, emphasizing regional cooperation and the importance of standards for trust, innovation, and sustainable development. The workshop commenced on May 5, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Workshop Overview:**
* A four-day workshop on "AI Standards for Increasing the Efficiency of Telecommunications ICTs: Shaping the Future Responsibly" was held at the National Communications AcademyFinance NCAF in New Delhi.
* The workshop was jointly organized by the International Telecommunication Union ITU Area Office Innovation Centre and the NCAF, Department of Telecommunications DoT, Government of India.
* Participants included BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka India, and Maldives), international experts, regulators, industry associations, startups, and academia.
* **Objectives:**
* To collaborate on building trustworthy and globally harmonized AI standards for telecommunications and ICT.
* To promote inclusive, interoperable, and responsible AI standards.
* To bridge the standardization gap in AI for telecommunications.
* **Keynote Addresses and Statements:**
* Shri Manish Sinha (Member Finance, DCC, DoT) emphasized the importance of consensus within the ITU framework for developing inclusive and globally harmonized AI standards.
* Shri Manish Sinha highlighted India's dual focus on advancing AI standardization and strengthening its manufacturing sector, mentioning initiatives like Digital Bharat Nidhi.
* Shri Indra Mani Pandey (Secretary General of BIMSTEC) reinforced the importance of regional collaboration on AI standards for collective development goals.
* Ms. Atsuko Okuda (Regional Director for Asia Pacific, ITU) stressed that standards are key enablers of trust, innovation, and sustainability.
* Ms. Madhavi Das (Director General, NCAF) highlighted NCAFs collaboration with the ITU Local Area Office to bridge the standardisation gap.
* **India's Role:**
* India aims to lead in both AI standardization and manufacturing.
* The Telecommunication Engineering Centre’s (TEC) pivotal role in promoting ethical AI development through fairness assessments and rating mechanisms.
* TSDSI contributes to creating technical standards that ensure AI systems are secure, interoperable, and globally aligned.
* **Workshop Activities:**
* The workshop includes simulation exercises, expert panels, country presentations, handson sessions on drafting and negotiating technical contributions, and field visits.
* **NCAF Information:**
* NCAF is an UTKRISHTgraded premier Central Training Institute under the Department of Telecommunications.
* NCAF provides training to officers of the Indian Posts Telecom Accounts and Finance Service IPTAFS and other officials across DoT and DoP.
* NCAF collaborates with institutions like ITU, WHO, TRAI, RBI Staff College, LBSNAA, and IIT Bombay.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **BIMSTEC Nations (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and Maldives):**
* Impact: These nations are directly involved in shaping regional AI standards for telecommunications and ICT, which will influence their development and interoperability.
* Action Required: Actively engage in the workshop sessions, share country-specific insights, and collaborate on drafting and negotiating technical contributions to ensure the standards align with their needs and goals.
* **International Telecommunication Union (ITU):**
* Impact: The ITU plays a key role in organizing and facilitating the workshop, contributing its expertise in global standardization and ensuring that the developed standards are globally harmonized.
* Action Required: Continue providing technical guidance, facilitating discussions, and supporting the development of inclusive and interoperable AI standards that can be adopted globally.
* **Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India:**
* Impact: The DoT, through NCAF, is hosting the workshop and demonstrating India's commitment to leading in AI standardization and manufacturing.
* Action Required: Support the outcomes of the workshop, promote the adoption of the developed standards within India, and continue investing in AI research, development, and manufacturing.
* **Regulators, Industry Associations, Startups, and Academia:**
* Impact: These stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute their perspectives and expertise to the development of AI standards, ensuring that the standards are practical, innovative, and address real-world challenges.
* Action Required: Actively participate in the workshop, share insights, and contribute to the drafting of technical standards that reflect their unique perspectives and needs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The Indian government ministry responsible for telecommunications and postal services.
BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional organization.
International Telecommunication Union ITU: A United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
Shri Manish Sinha: Member Finance, DCC, Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Shri Indra Mani Pandey: Secretary General of BIMSTEC.
Ms. Atsuko Okuda: Regional Director for Asia Pacific, ITU.
New Delhi, Delhi: The location of the workshop, which is the capital of India.
Department of Telecommunications DoT: A department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
Ministry of Communications
NCA-F Hosts Workshop on AI Standards for
Telecommunications & ICTs
BIMSTEC Nations and Global Experts Convene to
Shape Ethical, Inclusive AI Standards
India Aims to Lead in both AI Standardization and
Manufacturing, affirms Member (F), DCC ,Sh Manish
Sinha
Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of
BIMSTEC: “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, ITU, stresses that standards are key
enablers of trust, innovation, and sustainability
Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 6:17PM by PIB Delhi
A four-day workshop on "AI Standards for Increasing the Efficiency of Telecommunications & ICTs: Shaping
the Future Responsibly" was inaugurated today at the National Communications Academy–Finance (NCA-F)
in New Delhi. Organized jointly by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Office &
Innovation Centre and the NCA-F, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, the
event brings together participants from BIMSTEC countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka &
India— and Maldives; alongside international experts, regulators, industry associations, startups, and
academia to collaborate on building trustworthy and globally harmonized AI standards for
telecommunications and ICT.The inaugural session featured keynote addresses by eminent dignitaries, including Shri Manish Sinha,
Member (Finance), DCC, DoT; Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director for Asia Pacific, ITU; Shri Indra Mani
Pandey, Secretary General, BIMSTEC, and Ms. Madhavi Das, Director General, NCA-F. The session set the
tone for a forward-looking discussion on AI's role in shaping the future of digital infrastructure & Bridging
the Standardization Gap.
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Manish Sinha, Member (Finance), DCC, DoT, welcomed the
participants and praised the collaborative efforts between NCA-F and the ITU Area Office, recognizing it as a
model of institutional partnership. He acknowledged the significance of guests staying on campus, which
fosters closer interaction and deeper engagement, enhancing the quality of participation throughout the
workshop. He also emphasized the critical importance of consensus within the ITU framework for developing
AI standards that are both inclusive and globally harmonized, ensuring that these technologies benefit all
nations. He also spoke about India's commitment to economic inclusivity, particularly through initiatives like
Digital Bharat Nidhi.
Furthermore, Shri Manish Sinha highlighted India's dual focus on advancing AI standardization while also
strengthening its manufacturing sector. He underscored the Telecommunication Engineering Centre's (TEC)
pivotal role in promoting ethical AI development through fairness assessments and rating mechanisms and
acknowledged the valuable contributions of TSDSI in creating technical standards that ensure AI systems are
secure, interoperable, and globally aligned.
He urged all participants to engage actively in shaping practical AI standards, build strong cross-borderpartnerships, and envision future-ready, ethical AI applications that can accelerate sustainable development.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would serve as a launchpad for regional cooperation and
innovation in AI-driven telecom and ICT solutions.
Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, through a recorded message, reinforced the
importance of multilateral collaboration: “Regional collaboration on AI standards is not optional—it is
essential for ensuring that emerging technologies serve our collective development goals,” he said. “By
investing in standards today, we secure a future where AI can drive growth across all our member nations in
a responsible and interoperable way.”
Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director for Asia Pacific, ITU, thanked BIMSTEC, NCA-F, the department of
telecom, & the Government of India for hosting the workshop, emphasizing that AI has moved from research
to everyday life, with a projected $15 Trillion contribution to the global economy by 2030. She highlighted
the workshop’s aim to develop inclusive, interoperable, and responsible AI standards, and stressed that
standards are key enablers of trust, innovation, and sustainability.
Ms. Madhavi Das, Director General, NCA-F, in her Welcome Address emphasized, “AI is a
transformational force—but without strong, inclusive standards, it risks leaving many behind.” She
highlighted NCA-F’s collaboration with the ITU Local Area Office to bridge the standardisation gap through
stakeholder workshops, adding, “Standardization is not just a technical process; it is a commitment to safety,
ethics, and equitable access in a rapidly evolving digital world.”
The Director General, NCA-F, also stressed the importance of participative engagement and ethically
grounded contributions from all member states to ensure equity in AI standardization. Reflecting India’s ethos
of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. She warmly welcomed participants and underscored the value of mutual respect and
knowledge-sharing.
Over the four days, the workshop will feature simulation exercises, expert panels, country presentations,
hands-on sessions on drafting and negotiating technical contributions, and field visits.
About NCA-F
NCA–Finance (NCA-F), part of Department of Telecommunication’s National Communication Academy, is
an UTKRISHT-graded premier Central Training Institute, recognized by the Department of Personnel &
Training (DoPT). It provides induction and in-service training to officers of the Indian Posts & Telecom
Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) and other officials across DoT and DoP. NCA-F's core training
areas include telecom policy, spectrum management, revenue assurance, USOF projects, financial regulations,and digital inclusion. It also emphasizes leadership and soft skills development, and regularly hosts national
and international workshops in collaboration with institutions like ITU, WHO, TRAI, RBI Staff College,
LBSNAA, and IIT Bombay.
***
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(Release ID: 2127110)