Government officials and global internet leaders acknowledged significant challenges in achieving Universal Acceptance (UA) of Indian languages online during NIXI’s Universal Acceptance Day event at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
The hybrid conference, themed “Connecting the Unconnected – Building a Multilingual Internet for Viksit Bharat,” brought together policymakers and technocrats to assess progress toward digital inclusion.
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan stated in his keynote address: “In an increasingly digital-first world, it is essential that technology does not become a barrier, particularly in a diverse country like India. Universal Acceptance is not just about technical standards, it’s about empowering every citizen.”
He highlighted India’s global internet governance role, adding: “As India’s internet user base approaches a billion, we must ensure our voice is heard in international forums.”
However, implementation gaps persist. While the government’s Bhashini portal represents progress, it currently supports only 12 of India’s 22 scheduled languages.
UNESCO’s Tim Curtis emphasised the stakes: “By embracing linguistic diversity online, we are not just preserving languages – we are empowering communities.”
His comments come as studies show English still dominates 76% of Indian online content despite 89% of users preferring vernacular interfaces, according to Indian Readership Survey 2023.
Outlining ongoing efforts, NIXI CEO Dr. Devesh Tyagi said, “Our focus remains on creating a truly inclusive internet, where language is no longer a barrier.”
Yet technical challenges remain substantial – ICANN data shows 38% of email systems reject non-Latin addresses, while NASSCOM reports only 43% of MSME websites offer multilingual options.
The event’s panel discussions revealed critical gaps in localising digital public infrastructure. Participants noted uneven adoption of Internationalized Domain Names (currently at 17% penetration) and the absence of standardised keyboard layouts for eight scheduled languages.
These barriers particularly impact rural users, who comprise 71% of India’s non-English internet audience, according to TRAI 2024 report.
While initiatives like Kerala’s successful localisation of 18,000 government services demonstrate progress, experts cautioned that meeting the Digital India Act’s 2026 UA targets requires urgent scaling of technical capacity and stronger compliance mechanisms.
As India’s internet ecosystem expands, bridging this linguistic divide remains crucial for realising the vision of a truly inclusive digital Bharat, according to experts.
