India Joins US‑Led 6G Push, Cementing Tech Ties at G20 Innovation Meet

At a bustling side‑event of the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada shook hands with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and sealed a new partnership. The deal? India will join the United States and 24 other nations in a global effort to steer the development of 6G telecommunications.

According to a post on the US Department of Commerce’s X account, the agreement was finalised after the two ministers met on the sidelines of the G20 gathering. The statement highlighted a shared vision: to build future networks that safeguard security interests, boost competitiveness, and spark fresh innovation.

Prasada led a sizable Indian delegation that included Ajit Kumar, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, senior officials from MeitY, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. They were also accompanied by embassy staff in Washington.

The G20 Innovation Ministerial itself wrapped up with a declaration that emerging technologies can unlock prosperity, lift productivity, and expand opportunity for all peoples. That optimistic tone carried over into the bilateral talks that followed.

Beyond 6G, the two sides exchanged ideas on strengthening cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centres – the three pillars Prasada called “critical building blocks of the emerging digital economy.” He also floated the prospect of greater US investment in India’s ISM 2.0 programme and suggested tighter safeguards for AI.

In a brief X post, Prasada thanked the US G20 Presidency for its hospitality and underscored the importance of deepening practical collaboration across these tech domains.

India’s entry into the 6G coalition signals its growing clout on the world tech stage. By aligning with a US‑led framework, New Delhi hopes to translate advances in AI, semiconductors, robotics and related fields into tangible economic growth and improved quality of life for its citizens.

The move also dovetails with broader diplomatic efforts, as India continues to position itself as a strategic partner for both developed and emerging economies.