The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) marked its 23rd Foundation Day on June 19, 2026, with the launch of four new digital platforms aimed at strengthening the country’s internet infrastructure. The platforms include the IX Portal, myIRINN Portal, .IN Auction Portal, and an AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform, unveiled by MeitY Secretary and NIXI Chairman S. Krishnan. These initiatives are designed to improve operational efficiency, enhance transparency, and bolster domain security across India’s expanding digital ecosystem.
What Is NIXI?
NIXI is a not-for-profit organization registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (originally Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956). It was incorporated on June 19, 2003, under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with seed funding from the Department of Information Technology. The primary purpose of NIXI is to facilitate peering among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) so that domestic internet traffic is routed within India rather than being sent abroad, which reduces latency, cuts bandwidth costs, and saves foreign exchange.
NIXI performs three core functions. First, it operates Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across India, enabling ISPs to exchange traffic locally. Second, it manages the .IN Registry, which is responsible for India’s country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), including Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in all 22 scheduled Indian languages. Third, it runs the Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN), which serves as India’s National Internet Registry (NIR) for allocating IP addresses (both IPv4 and IPv6) and Autonomous System (AS) numbers. IRINN was recognized by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) in March 2012 and formally launched in March 2013.
The Four New Digital Platforms
The four platforms launched during the Foundation Day celebrations target different aspects of India’s internet governance. Each portal addresses a specific operational need, from managing internet exchange infrastructure to securing domain name registrations.
IX Portal
The IX Portal is a unified digital interface designed to optimize the operations and management of NIXI’s domestic internet exchange points. It simplifies the monitoring and administration of IXP infrastructure, giving members and administrators a centralized platform to manage peering arrangements, track traffic data, and oversee network performance. This portal is expected to improve the overall reliability and efficiency of India’s domestic internet traffic exchange.
myIRINN Portal
The myIRINN Portal is a secure, dedicated platform for members and affiliates of the Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN). It streamlines the process of applying for and managing IP address allocations and AS number assignments. By bringing these functions under a single authenticated interface, the portal enhances transparency, reduces manual processing, and ensures compliance with KYC requirements for all IRINN affiliates.
.IN Auction Portal
The .IN Auction Portal introduces a transparent and streamlined mechanism for bidding on and acquiring premium .IN domain names. Premium domains are high-value, short, or keyword-rich names that were previously difficult to obtain through standard registration. This portal opens up these domains through an auction-based process, making them accessible to businesses, investors, and individuals while ensuring fair and open competition.
AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform
The AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform is perhaps the most significant of the four launches from a cybersecurity perspective. WHOIS is a protocol used to query databases that store the registered users or assignees of a domain name. This new platform uses artificial intelligence to continuously screen and analyse WHOIS data for the .IN domain space. It can automatically detect suspicious patterns, identify potentially fraudulent or malicious websites, and flag domain registrations that may be involved in phishing, malware distribution, or other cyber threats. This proactive screening strengthens the integrity and trustworthiness of India’s ccTLD.
India’s Internet Infrastructure: Key Milestones
NIXI’s 23rd Foundation Day also offered an opportunity to review the organisation’s growing footprint in India’s digital landscape. The numbers tell the story of an infrastructure that has expanded rapidly to keep pace with the country’s digital transformation.
NIXI currently manages over 39 lakh .IN domain names, placing India among the top ten country-code domain registries globally. It operates 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across the country, enabling faster domestic routing of internet traffic. The maximum volume of internet traffic handled by NIXI has reached 1.53 Tbps.
A significant milestone in recent years has been the adoption of IPv6, the next-generation internet protocol designed to replace IPv4 due to the exhaustion of available IPv4 addresses. India’s IPv6 adoption has reached approximately 78.34%, making the country one of the global leaders in this transition. For context, the global average IPv6 adoption hovers around 30-40%, placing India far ahead of most developed nations in future-proofing its network infrastructure.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| .IN Domain Names | Over 39 lakh (3.9 million) |
| Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) | 79 |
| IPv6 Adoption Rate | 78.34% |
| Indian Languages Supported for Domains | 22 |
| Internet Traffic Handled | 1.53 Tbps (peak) |
Another major achievement has been NIXI’s role in facilitating the migration of Indian banks to the dedicated .bank.in domain. Following an RBI directive in April 2025, over 400 banks including SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and all public sector banks migrated their official websites to the .bank.in zone by the October 31, 2025 deadline. This initiative, with the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) serving as the exclusive registrar, was designed to curb phishing attacks and enhance public trust in digital banking. A similar domain, .fin.in, is planned for the wider financial sector.
NIXI also supports domain registrations in 22 Indian languages through Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) such as .भारत, .ભારત, and .ଭାରତ, furthering the government’s vision of a truly multilingual and inclusive internet.
The Road Ahead for India’s Digital Ecosystem
The launch of these four platforms comes at a time when India is moving from an internet access-focused approach to one centred on resilience, trust, and security. Speaking at the event, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan noted that as digital technologies become deeply embedded in everyday life, building a secure and reliable internet ecosystem is more important than ever. Joint Secretary Sushil Pal highlighted the role of initiatives such as the NIXI Fellowship Programme in developing the next generation of internet leaders who can represent India in global forums like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and ICANN.
India’s position in global internet governance is strengthening. Samiran Gupta, ICANN’s Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director for Asia Pacific, emphasized that as India’s digital ecosystem expands, its participation in global internet standards-setting discussions must also grow. The NIXI Fellowship Programme is grooming Indian professionals to meaningfully contribute to these international platforms.
NIXI CEO Dr. Devesh Tyagi outlined the organisation’s vision for the coming years, centering on three pillars: trust, innovation, and inclusion. The goal is no longer just about connecting people to the internet but about creating real opportunities for citizens, businesses, startups, and institutions to thrive in a digital-first economy. These four new platforms, particularly the AI-powered WHOIS screening system, represent concrete steps toward that vision.
As India advances toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, NIXI’s role in maintaining a secure, resilient, and inclusive internet infrastructure will become even more critical. From managing the country’s domain name ecosystem to driving IPv6 adoption and now deploying AI-powered security tools, NIXI is positioning itself as a cornerstone of India’s digital sovereignty in the decades ahead.
Key Takeaways
- NIXI was incorporated on June 19, 2003, as a not-for-profit organization under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, functioning under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- The four digital platforms launched are the IX Portal, myIRINN Portal, .IN Auction Portal, and the AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform.
- NIXI manages over 39 lakh .IN domain names and operates 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across India, with peak traffic volumes reaching 1.53 Tbps.
- India’s IPv6 adoption rate of 78.34% is among the highest globally, far exceeding the worldwide average.
- Over 400 banks migrated to the dedicated .bank.in domain following a 2025 RBI directive, with IDRBT serving as the exclusive registrar.
- The NIXI Fellowship Programme is building a pipeline of Indian internet leaders for global governance forums such as ICANN and the IETF.
