Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled “Scale Without Boundaries” as the theme for the landmark 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, scheduled to be held from October 7 to 10 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. The theme signals India’s ambition to move beyond being a consumer of global technology and become a designer, developer, and exporter of digital solutions across borders. The milestone edition is anchored around four pillars Srishti, Suraksha, Sashakt, and Samvardhan, reflecting a comprehensive vision for India’s next phase of digital transformation.
What Is the India Mobile Congress?
The India Mobile Congress (IMC) is Asia’s largest digital technology forum, jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). First held in 2017 at Pragati Maidan, the event has grown from a 32,000-visitor industry gathering into a premier global platform that brings together telecom operators, technology companies, policymakers, startups, investors, researchers, and academia.
COAI itself was constituted in 1995 as a registered non-governmental society representing the Indian telecom industry. The department of telecommunications, one of the oldest departments of the Government of India, traces its origins to the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885.
Over the years, each edition of IMC has carried a distinct theme. IMC 2018 focused on “New Digital Horizons: Connect, Create, Innovate.” IMC 2022, themed “New Digital Universe,” marked the launch of 5G services in India by Prime Minister Modi. IMC 2024 carried the theme “The Future is Now,” while IMC 2025 was themed “Innovate to Transform.” The 10th edition now builds on this legacy with a theme that pushes beyond domestic innovation toward global leadership.
The event has recorded impressive scale. The last edition saw over 1.4 lakh visitors, 860 exhibitors, representatives from 101 countries, 465 startups, and 918 speakers across 113 sessions. Going into its tenth year, IMC 2026 is expected to attract more than 1.5 lakh visitors and over 300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries.
Four Pillars of IMC 2026
The 10th edition is structured around four thematic pillars, each represented by a Sanskrit-inspired term that captures a distinct dimension of India’s digital strategy.
Srishti (Building the Future)
Srishti focuses on innovation, research, and emerging technologies that will form the foundation of India’s next-generation digital infrastructure. This pillar covers the development of semiconductors, cloud computing, and advanced research into next-generation network technologies. It reflects the government’s push to build domestic capabilities in chip design and manufacturing, an area where the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom and networking products, launched in February 2021 with an outlay of ₹12,195 crore, has already started yielding results.
Suraksha (Strengthening Trust)
Suraksha addresses the growing need for secure, resilient, and trusted digital ecosystems. As India’s digital economy expands, so do the risks of cyber fraud, data breaches, and network vulnerabilities. This pillar will feature discussions on cybersecurity frameworks, quantum-safe communications, and trusted digital infrastructure. The government’s Sanchar Saathi portal, a citizen-centric initiative for telecom security, was highlighted by Scindia as a key tool in this area.
Sashakt (Expanding Opportunities)
Sashakt is about leveraging technology to empower citizens, businesses, startups, and communities. It focuses on inclusive access to digital opportunities, especially for underserved regions and smaller enterprises. The ASPIRE startup programme, a flagship initiative of IMC, will continue to provide emerging technology startups with platforms to connect with investors, incubators, and industry leaders. Over 400 startups and more than 300 investors are expected to participate, with over 700 one-to-one investor meetings planned.
Samvardhan (Fueling Growth)
Samvardhan highlights the role of digital technologies in driving economic growth, investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation. This pillar will showcase how telecom and technology can accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy and a global technology leader. Key themes include electronics manufacturing, exports, and the scaling of Indian telecom products to global markets. The establishment of India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior, as noted by Scindia, is a concrete step in this direction.
A Decade of Digital Milestones
The 10th edition of IMC marks more than just an event anniversary. It reflects a decade of transformation in India’s telecom landscape. Since IMC’s inception in 2017, India has achieved several milestones that have reshaped the sector.
| Milestone | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| IMC first edition | 2017 | Created a national forum for telecom stakeholders |
| Launch of 5G services | 2022 | India began one of the fastest 5G rollouts globally |
| 500 million 5G users within 2.5 years | 2025 | ₹4.5 lakh crore investment, ~5 lakh new towers |
| Bharat 6G Vision unveiled | 2023 | PM released the vision document on March 22, 2023 |
| Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) formed | 2023 | Industry-academia alliance to design and develop 6G |
| PLI scheme for telecom launched | 2021 | ₹12,195 crore outlay to boost domestic manufacturing |
| Yashobhoomi inaugurated | 2023 | Asia’s largest convention centre hosted IMC from 2024 |
The Bharat 6G Vision, released by the Prime Minister in March 2023, aims to position India as a frontline contributor in the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by 2030. The Bharat 6G Alliance unites industry, academia, and research institutions to achieve this goal. Speaking at the theme launch, Scindia expressed confidence that 6G will seamlessly unite the physical, digital, and intelligent worlds.
India’s Telecom Transformation
The scale of India’s telecom revolution provides the backdrop against which IMC 2026 takes place. Over 1.33 billion Indians now use mobile phones. The cost of mobile data has fallen dramatically from ₹287 per GB to nearly ₹8 per GB, making India one of the world’s most affordable digital markets. Scindia described this as “democratisation” and “Antyodaya” reaching the last mile.
India has also developed indigenous 4G technology, achieving nearly 90 per cent quality parity with established global players. The government’s focus is now shifting from basic mobile connectivity toward universal high-speed broadband access through initiatives such as BharatNet, which aims to connect all gram panchayats with optical fibre, and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
Yashobhoomi: The Venue
IMC 2026 will be held at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre) in Dwarka, New Delhi. Inaugurated in September 2023 by the Prime Minister, Yashobhoomi is the largest convention centre in India and Asia by area. Developed at a cost of ₹5,400 crore for Phase I, the complex spans over 8.9 lakh square metres and can accommodate 11,000 people across 15 convention centres. It has an underground parking facility for over 3,000 cars and is connected by the Airport Express Line (Orange Line) of the Delhi Metro, with the Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 metro station located within the complex. The venue also holds “Green Cities Platinum” certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for its sustainable features including rooftop solar panels and a 100 per cent wastewater reuse system.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 will be held from October 7 to 10, 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, with the theme “Scale Without Boundaries”.
- The four pillars of IMC 2026 are Srishti (Building the Future), Suraksha (Strengthening Trust), Sashakt (Expanding Opportunities), and Samvardhan (Fueling Growth).
- IMC is jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which was constituted in 1995.
- The Bharat 6G Vision was unveiled in March 2023, aiming for India to be a frontline contributor in 6G design and development by 2030.
- Yashobhoomi is Asia’s largest convention centre, inaugurated in September 2023 at a cost of ₹5,400 crore for Phase I, and holds IGBC Green Cities Platinum certification.
- The PLI scheme for telecom and networking products was launched in February 2021 with an outlay of ₹12,195 crore to boost domestic manufacturing.
