Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan calls for inclusive, ethical innovation at ITS Diamond Jubilee

In an era defined by rapid digital acceleration, India’s Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan has delivered a timely reminder: progress means little unless it touches every life, every home, every corner of the country. Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) in New Delhi, he framed technology not as a spectacle of innovation but as a social equalizer — a tool that must serve humanity and leave no Indian behind.

It was a message that resonated far beyond the hall. India, after all, stands at a remarkable inflection point: a nation of 1.4 billion people navigating the intertwined frontiers of digital transformation, connectivity, and data-driven governance.

A Telecom Journey That Mirrors India’s Transformation

Radhakrishnan opened his address by reflecting on just how dramatically India’s telecom landscape has evolved. Once, obtaining a telephone line felt like a bureaucratic marathon. Today, affordable smartphones, high-speed broadband corridors, and digital public infrastructure have transformed daily life — from banking and healthcare to education and civic services.

But he emphasized that the story of this transformation is not just one of consumer growth or private-sector dominance. It is also the story of the Indian Telecommunications Service, a cadre he described as the “trusted architects” behind India’s digital rise. Their work, spanning six decades, has powered everything from rural exchanges to today’s data highways.

In many ways, the evolution of the ITS parallels India’s broader development story — slow, steady, and then suddenly exponential.

Ethics at the Heart of the Digital Future

Even as Radhakrishnan celebrated the sector’s achievements, he injected a note of urgency. The future, he argued, depends on more than technological prowess. It hinges on ethics, trust, and responsible stewardship — especially in a time when data has become both currency and commodity.

For India to lead the world in 5G, 6G, satellite communication, and next-generation networks, the Vice President insisted that its digital foundations must be built not just on speed, but on integrity. Citizens, he said, must feel protected in an increasingly data-driven world.

His message was clear: in the race toward futuristic connectivity, India cannot afford to compromise on the moral framework that underpins its digital ecosystem.

The Promise and Obligation of Inclusivity

“Inclusive innovation” was the phrase that defined the afternoon.

Radhakrishnan emphasized that connectivity is not merely about coverage maps or technological milestones. It is about impact — real, lived impact. It is about ensuring that a weaver in Kutch has the same digital opportunities as a startup founder in Bengaluru. It is about bridging the rural-urban divide not just with towers and cables, but with access, literacy, affordability, and empowerment.

The Vice President urged telecom leaders and policymakers to view every technological breakthrough through a human lens:
Who gains? Who is left out? And how can technology close, rather than widen, existing gaps?

India as a Creator, Not Just a Consumer

As India positions itself as a global innovation hub, Radhakrishnan called for a mindset shift. The country, he said, must aspire not merely to adopt the technologies of tomorrow but to design, create, and export them.

With a young population, strong institutional frameworks, and a rapidly expanding digital economy, India holds the ingredients to become a leader in next-generation communication technologies. But this leadership, he emphasized, must be rooted in responsibility and driven by purpose.

A Vision for a People-First Digital India

Radhakrishnan’s address was more than a ceremonial speech; it was a blueprint for the decade ahead. One that frames India’s digital rise not just as an economic opportunity but as a social mission.

His message captured the essence of a future-ready India:

Ø A nation where connectivity equals opportunity.

Ø Where technology empowers, not excludes.

Ø Where progress aligns with ethics.

Ø Where the benefits of innovation reach the last household, the last village, the last citizen.

As India races into an era of unprecedented technological possibility, the Vice President’s words stand as a guiding principle:
Technology must ultimately be human-centric — because progress is meaningful only when it is shared by all.