NEW DELHI [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday, marking the beginning of Asia’s largest and most influential technology and telecom forum. The four-day event, being held from October 8 to 11, aims to showcase India’s growing dominance in the global digital landscape and to foster collaboration among innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from around the world.
India’s journey from technology taker to global digital leader
Addressing the gathering, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted India’s remarkable transformation from being a “technology taker” to becoming a “digital flag bearer of the world.” He credited Prime Minister Modi’s vision for revolutionising the nation’s telecom and digital ecosystem.
“From being a technology taker and follower, India today has become the digital flag bearer of the world. Mobile data costs have fallen by 98% in the past 11 years. There was a time when a single minute of voice was a luxury. Today, India is home to 20% of the world’s mobile population, with 1.2 billion subscribers. Broadband users have increased from 60 million in 2014 to 944 million today,” Scindia said.
India’s digital revolution: The power of the four Ds
Scindia emphasised that India’s telecom revolution is anchored on four key pillars — Democracy, Demography, Digital First, and Delivery. He pointed out that in 2014, 1 GB of data cost ₹287, whereas today it costs just ₹9.11, making India’s data among the most affordable in the world.
“Nearly 99.9% of our districts are connected by 5G, and we already have 365 million 5G subscribers. The trinity of JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile), DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has set global benchmarks in inclusion and innovation. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is now being studied by 20 countries that wish to adopt the same model,” he added.
Startup World Cup 2025: India’s innovation on the global stage
A major highlight of IMC 2025 is the Startup World Cup – India Edition, a competition that brings together 550 startups and 300 venture capitalists and private equity firms. Fifteen startups will be shortlisted to represent India at the global finale in San Francisco, where they will compete for a USD 1 million prize.
Scindia expressed confidence that India’s thriving startup ecosystem will shine on the global stage. “With the Prime Minister’s guidance, I am certain India will return victorious from that World Cup,” he remarked.
India Mobile Congress: A growing global platform
Since its inception in 2017, the India Mobile Congress has grown exponentially. The first edition saw 32,000 visitors, while in 2024, the event attracted 1.75 lakh participants. IMC 2025 is projected to host over 1.5 lakh visitors from more than 150 countries, with 7,000 global delegates participating in discussions and sessions.
The event will feature over 400 exhibitors and partners, spread across 42,000 square metres of exhibition space, showcasing over 1,600 cutting-edge innovations in key sectors such as 5G and 6G networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Green Technology, Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors, and Smart Mobility Solutions. Notably, around 800 AI-driven use cases will be demonstrated at the event.
IMC 2025: Driving India’s digital future
The India Mobile Congress serves as a key platform for advancing India’s vision of a self-reliant digital economy, driving technological innovation, and strengthening partnerships with global stakeholders. With India now recognised as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, the IMC is expected to generate new opportunities in emerging technologies, manufacturing, and sustainable innovation.
The event aligns with the government’s broader goals of boosting ‘Digital India’, ‘Make in India’, and ‘Startup India’ initiatives — all aimed at positioning India as a global hub for technology and innovation.
As the IMC 2025 continues over the next few days, the focus will remain on enabling next-generation digital growth, empowering startups, and promoting India as a key player in the global technology ecosystem.