NCA-F Hosts Workshop on AI Standards for Telecommunications & ICTs

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. *** Follow DoT Handles for more: - X - https://x.com/DoT_India Insta-https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ== Fb - https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia YT- https://www.youtube.com/@departmentoftelecom <><><> Samrat (Release ID: 2127110)