IT FORUM 2026, PANEL DISCUSSION - I : FROM DIGITAL INDIA TO AI INDIA: THE NEXT LEAP

The first panel discussion at the event, moderated by Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-Chief, VARINDIA, brought together leading technology and business leaders on the theme, “From Digital India to AI India: The Next Leap.” The panellists included Vijay Sethi of Mentorkart, Golok Kumar Simli of BLS International, Sujoy Brahmachari of Rosmerta Technologies, Bharat B Anand of Contec Global, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Santosh Khadsare (Retd) of iDEFENCE Innovations, Dr. Prince Joseph of SFO Technologies, and VV Jacob of Malayala Manorama.

The discussion focused on leveraging India's digital foundation to accelerate AI adoption through sovereign capabilities, trusted governance, indigenous innovation, talent development and collaboration across government, academia, enterprises and startups.

Bharat B Anand, Group CITO, Contec Global

“The journey from Digital India to AI India is not a transition but an evolution, where AI builds on the strong digital foundation created through initiatives like Aadhaar, UPI and the country’s expanding digital infrastructure. India’s scale of data, digital infrastructure and talent presents a unique opportunity, provided government, enterprises and startups work together while investing in R&D, sovereign infrastructure and AI talent. AI should be viewed as a value creator rather than merely a cost- cutting tool. While it will reshape jobs, it will also create new opportunities, making continuous upskilling, strong governance and a collaborative ecosystem essential to realizing the vision of ‘Jan Jan AI, Ghar Ghar AI.’”

(L-R): Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-Chief, VARINDIA; Dr. Prince Joseph, Global CIO, SFO Technologies; VV Jacob, Chief General Manager - IT, Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd; Sujoy Brahmachari, CIO & CISO, Rosmerta Technologies Ltd; Vijay Sethi, Chairman, Mentorkart; Golok Kumar Simli, President - Technology & Innovation, BLS International; Lt. Col. (Dr.) Santosh Khadsare (Retd), CEO, iDEFENCE Innovations Pvt. Ltd; and Bharat B Anand, Group CITO, Contec Global.

Dr. Prince Joseph, Global CIO, SFO Technologies

“India’s AI journey must be anchored on data, trust and good governance. As enterprises increasingly adopt AI tools, the bigger challenge is ensuring that sensitive information remains protected through effective guardrails and governance mechanisms. While organizations have little choice but to embrace AI, concerns around data security and policy enforcement continue to persist. Building sovereign AI is therefore not just about technology or infrastructure, but about creating trusted systems that inspire confidence among enterprises and citizens alike. Unless these foundational elements are addressed, India’s vision of emerging as a global AI leader by 2030 will remain difficult to realize.”

Golok Kumar Simli, President - Technology & Innovation, BLS International

“The journey from Digital India to AI India is about building intelligence on the strong digital foundation the country has already created. The next step is leveraging data responsibly while ensuring AI remains trusted, ethical and empowering for citizens. Building sovereign AI requires semiconductor and hardware capabilities, cloud sovereignty, indigenous AI models and a strong AI talent ecosystem. By 2030, India should not merely be a consumer of AI but help define the global path for ethical, interoperable and India-centric AI innovation.”

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Santosh Khadsare (Retd), CEO, iDEFENCE Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

“Sovereign AI is critical for sectors such as defence and digital forensics, where trust, credibility and data integrity cannot be compromised. Governments and security agencies will always prefer trusted indigenous AI solutions, particularly when accuracy has direct operational consequences. Developing indigenous LLMs and integrating them into AI solutions will strengthen trust while addressing India’s security and operational requirements more effectively. Enterprises and users must also adopt and promote homegrown AI innovations to accelerate their maturity and help India become a leader in sovereign AI by 2030.”

Sujoy Brahmachari, CIO & CISO, Rosmerta Technologies Ltd.

“AI will build on India’s strong digital foundation by making digital payments, identity and communication systems more intelligent, secure and efficient, while enhancing the overall user experience. In the enterprise, AI adoption should be driven by measurable business outcomes such as higher productivity, improved efficiency, better product quality and reduced rejections, rather than workforce reduction. Successful AI implementation also requires continuous training and refinement of models to deliver sustained value. By 2030, AI will become an integral part of everyday life, supported by data models and infrastructure tailored to India’s unique requirements.”

Vijay Sethi, Chairman, Mentorkart

“Building AI for India begins with developing AI models trained on Indian data, reflecting our unique culture, languages and real-world contexts. Alongside strengthening semiconductor capabilities, we must harness India’s vast talent pool to create AI solutions that address domestic priorities. In enterprises, AI should be viewed as a driver of productivity, quality and value creation. By 2030, India’s AI ambitions will depend on close collaboration among academia, government, corporates, startups and citizens to build a globally competitive and inclusive AI ecosystem.”

VV Jacob, Chief General Manager - IT, Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd.

“India has built a strong digital ecosystem that is generating enormous volumes of data, but we must now focus on developing our own AI models and capabilities instead of remaining dependent on foreign LLMs. Strengthening indigenous AI models, increasing investments in R&D, and fostering stronger collaboration with universities to nurture AI talent should be national priorities. By 2030, we must reimagine products using the latest AI technologies, ensuring they remain relevant, competitive and capable of addressing India’s evolving needs.”