Being a member of the Metaverse-related Working Group at the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, I had the privilege of speaking on the topic:

“Immersive Intelligent World – The Shift We Are Living Through”

My talk focused on how the metaverse is shaping the future of the internet, and how we can begin preparing for this transformation today. I also emphasized the critical role of standards, interoperability, and best practices, and why initiatives like MIPS (Metaverse India Standards & Policy Initiative) are essential for positioning India as a global leader in this space.

Keynotes and Contributions

The event, held on 29 January 2026, brought together representatives from government bodies, academic institutions, and industry leaders.

The keynote delivered by Mr. R. S. Singh, Dy. Director General (IoT), and Namrata Singh, ITS, Director (IoT), TEC, highlighting the significant work TEC and DoT are doing in collaboration with academia and industry to drive standards development and policy frameworks.

It was encouraging to see India’s growing contributions to ITU-T standards, including multiple proposals from our working group that have been accepted and appreciated at the global level.

Two of my contributions from India were accepted and well appreciated by the group

• ITU-T Technical Report - Potential requirements of IoT-based Perishable Goods Monitoring System
• ITU-T Recommendation - Framework and requirements for identity visualization in and across metaverse

My Session: Immersive Intelligent World

In my presentation, I addressed one of the biggest challenges today — the misunderstanding of the term “metaverse.”

I shared that the metaverse is not:

• ❌ Just virtual reality
• ❌ Not only gaming
• ❌ Not a single company or platform

Instead, it represents a convergence of technologies:

• Spatial computing (AR/VR/MR)
• Artificial Intelligence
• IoT and digital twins
• Decentralization and cloud platforms

Together, these are creating what I described as an Immersive Intelligent World — where digital and physical realities seamlessly blend.

I also shared real-world use cases from my experience in XR and emerging technologies, demonstrating how this shift is already underway.

For those interested, here are the slides from my presentation:

This is very covered in my book, there I have dedicated chapter cover metaverse myths and realities.

Why Standards Matter

A key theme throughout the session was the importance of common standards, governance, and collaboration to ensure:

• ✔ Interoperability across platforms
• ✔ Responsible innovation
• ✔ Scalable and secure immersive ecosystems

Initiatives like MIPS are playing a vital role in bringing together policymakers, technologists, and industry leaders to shape India’s immersive future.

📕 Exploring the Metaverse - Redefining Reality in the Digital Age

“Exploring the Metaverse” is a comprehensive guide to the metaverse, the future state of the internet. Prepare yourself for what’s ahead by understanding the opportunities and challenges of the metaverse. This book calls us to action, emphasizing that its evolution is in our hands. You can find a detailed synopsis of the book here.

Available globally on Amazon and BPB Online as both paperback and eBook. Access a free preview of the book here.

Get your copy: Click here to know discounts and check availability

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Opportunity to Contribute

SMr. Sushil Kumar I.T.S, Chair of ITU-T SG-20 Regional Group, shared contribution guidelines and encouraging wider participation in the working groups.

If you’re working in:

• XR / Spatial Computing
• AI + Digital Twins
• Infrastructure & standards
• Policy & governance

This is a powerful opportunity to help shape India’s immersive technology roadmap.

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