The Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, along with Secretary, Telecom, Shri (Dr.) Neeraj Mittal, chaired a high-level review meeting of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) to assess India’s progress toward becoming a global leader in 6G by 2030. The event included comprehensive presentations from working group Chairpersons, outlining actionable plans and key technological advancements. Among them was Prof. Rohit Budhiraja, Vice Chair of B6GA and Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Kanpur, who delivered a presentation titled “Global 6G Standardisation.” He shared India’s growing contributions to international standard-setting bodies such as 3GPP and ITU, and emphasized the importance of aligning national efforts with global benchmarks.

Drawing from India’s active participation in global standard-setting forums such as the 3GPP workshop in Korea and the TSG RAN meeting in Prague, Prof. Budhiraja outlined how India is shaping discussions on critical 6G design goals including ubiquitous coverage, AI integration, security, and energy efficiency. He emphasized that 6G must inherently support both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, and presented frameworks for integrating AI-as-a-Service and post-quantum cryptography into 6G networks.

Speaking at the event Prof. Rohit Budhiraja said, “Artificial Intelligence and 6G share a symbiotic relationship. While AI will make 6G networks more secure, efficient, and adaptive, from threat detection to energy optimization, 6G will, in turn, serve as a foundational platform to scale AI applications through AI-as-a-Service, seamless data handling, and intelligent connectivity. At IIT Kanpur, our work is actively shaping this intersection, building on insights from 5G Advanced and pushing the frontiers for what 6G can enable.”

Highlighting the importance of aligning India’s national efforts with global roadmaps, he shared updates on contributions made by B6GA members including IIT Kanpur to international working groups, joint white papers, and the ongoing TTDF R&D initiatives. He also noted collaborative Indo-Finnish efforts on building resilient 6G networks.

IIT Kanpur is closely involved in key research and development initiatives under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), with several projects already approved and larger collaborative efforts under evaluation. The institute is also contributing to joint white papers on critical themes such as AI/ML in 6G and resilient 6G networks, in partnership with leading academic institutions like IIT Madras, and IIT Hyderabad, and industry partners including CEWiT, Tech Mahindra and Tejas Networks. These efforts underline IIT Kanpur’s leadership in shaping a robust, secure, and globally aligned 6G ecosystem for India.

About Bharat 6G Alliance:

The Government of India unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document in March 2023, laying the strategic foundation for India’s leadership in the sixth generation (6G) of wireless systems. To operationalize this vision, the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) was established as a multi-stakeholder platform, uniting academia, industry, startups, and public institutions. The Bharat 6G Alliance is a collaborative initiative, designed to create a comprehensive and future-ready 6G ecosystem in India. Its focus on R&D, innovation, and standardization is central to the national mission of making India a global leader in 6G.

About IIT Kanpur:

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, holds the distinction of being recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. Renowned for its excellence in science and engineering education, IIT Kanpur has made significant contributions to research and development over the decades. Its expansive, lush green campus spans 1,050 acres and hosts a rich array of academic and research resources. The institute comprises 19 departments, 26 centers, three interdisciplinary programs, and two specialized schools across engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines. With over 590 full-time faculty members and more than 9,500 students, IIT Kanpur continues to be a leader in fostering innovation and academic rigor.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in.