India is strengthening its digital infrastructure and building a safer, more resilient internet ecosystem. Supporting this effort, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), a not-for-profit organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has been working towards this. As part of its 23rd Foundation Day, NIXI recently launched four new digital platforms aimed at improving transparency, operational efficiency, user experience, and domain security across India’s internet ecosystem.
These include IX Portal, a unified platform to simplify Internet Exchange services; myIRINN Portal, a self-service platform for IP address and Autonomous System Number management; IN Auction Portal, a transparent platform for the allocation of premium .IN domain names; and the AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform, an AI-enabled system designed to identify suspicious websites and strengthen the security of India’s .IN domain ecosystem.
The Tech Panda spoke to Dr. Devesh Tyagi, CEO of National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) about these latest capabilities and what they mean for India.
“The biggest advantage of AI is that it helps us stay one step ahead of cyber threats. As the custodian of over 4 million .IN domain names, NIXI is constantly working to make India’s domain ecosystem more secure,”
“The biggest advantage of AI is that it helps us stay one step ahead of cyber threats. As the custodian of over 4 million .IN domain names, NIXI is constantly working to make India’s domain ecosystem more secure,” says Dr. Tyagi.
Beyond these launches, NIXI continues to play a pivotal role in India’s digital transformation by managing over 3.9 million .IN domain names, operating 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across the country, supporting domain registrations in 22 Indian languages, and driving IPv6 adoption, making India one of the global leaders in IPv6 deployment.
Enhancing .IN Domain Security: How NIXI’s AI WHOIS Platform Works
NIXI’s new AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform is a major step toward a safer ecosystem. This AI model is capable of differentiating between a legitimate new business registration and a sophisticated, malicious setup. We asked Dr. Tyagi what specific behavioral or data anomalies is it flagging to catch suspicious websites before they can harm users?
“It is important to note that the platform is designed to complement and support, rather than replace, the existing verification processes.”
Dr. Tyagi explains that the platform helps identify unusual registration patterns that may indicate suspicious activity. For example, it can detect multiple domain registrations from the same source within a short period, repeated or inconsistent contact details, or other registration patterns that are different from normal behaviour. Such cases are flagged for additional verification before any further action is taken.
“It is important to note that the platform is designed to complement and support, rather than replace, the existing verification processes. Genuine businesses and individuals can continue to register domains smoothly, while AI helps us identify potential risks at an early stage. This proactive approach strengthens the overall integrity of the .IN domain ecosystem and makes the internet safer for everyone,” he says.
Digital Identity for All
Supporting domain registrations across 22 official Indian languages is a massive technical feat. Building this multi-script infrastructure wasn’t without engineering and localization challenges. But NIXI ensures that non-English domains maintain the exact same level of domain security and routing stability.
Dr. Tyagi says that the biggest challenge was ensuring that domains in different scripts work seamlessly across browsers, websites and internet services while following global technical standards.
“Our goal is to make the internet more inclusive without compromising on quality or performance. The internet should be available in the language people think and communicate in.”
“Behind every local-language domain is the same robust infrastructure that powers the entire .IN ecosystem,” he explains.
Whether a domain is registered in English or any Indian language, it follows the same registration policies, DNS security standards and operational processes. This means users receive the same level of security, stability and reliability, regardless of the language they choose.
“Our goal is to make the internet more inclusive without compromising on quality or performance. The internet should be available in the language people think and communicate in. That is why NIXI supports domain registrations in all 22 official Indian languages, making it easier for people across the country to build their digital identity in their preferred language,” he clarifies.
Global Leadership in IPv6 Adoption
India is recognized as a global leader in IPv6 adoption, outpacing many developed economies. This high rate of transition can fundamentally change India’s future technological prowess on the global stage. The expectation is that the myIRINN Portal streamline IP address management can handle the massive influx of next-generation internet devices.
“The internet of the future cannot run on yesterday’s technology,” says Dr. Tyagi.
“The internet of the future cannot run on yesterday’s technology,”
He points out that with an IPv6 adoption rate of over 79%, India has emerged as one of the global leaders in next-generation internet adoption. “This is important because technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities and connected healthcare require a much larger pool of IP addresses than older internet systems can provide. A strong IPv6 ecosystem ensures that India is well prepared to support these technologies at scale.”
He explains that the newly launched myIRINN Portal further simplifies the management of internet number resources. It provides organisations with a single digital platform to manage IP address allocations, submit requests and access services more efficiently.
“By reducing manual processes and improving transparency, the portal helps organisations manage their internet resources quickly and efficiently as India’s digital economy continues to grow,” he says.
The Backbone of India’s Internet
With 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across the country, NIXI forms the literal backbone of India’s internet traffic. From an operational efficiency standpoint, the unified IX Portal optimizes data routing and helps in reducing latency and safeguarding India’s critical digital infrastructure against massive regional downtime.
“People expect the internet to be fast, reliable and always available. NIXI plays an important role in making that possible through its network of 79 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), connecting Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and global Content Delivery Networks (CDNs),” Dr. Tyagi states.
By allowing internet traffic generated within India to remain within the country, IXPs reduce latency, improve browsing speeds and lower network costs for service providers.
“This creates a better online experience for businesses and consumers alike,” he adds.
The new IX Portal brings all member services onto one platform, making it easier to manage connectivity, monitor services and complete operational tasks. At the same time, NIXI’s geographically distributed IXP network improves resilience. If one exchange point experiences a disruption, traffic can be routed through other locations, helping maintain uninterrupted internet services across the country.
Modernizing the .IN Domain
As India cements its position as a global technology superpower, the modernization of the .IN domain ecosystem, supported by the new transparent .IN Auction Portal, strengthens the country’s sovereign digital identity and protects the overall integrity of India’s expanding internet footprint.
“A country’s digital identity is becoming just as important as its physical identity. Today, with over 4 million .IN domain names and .IN Registry is now the 9th largest country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) globally,” says Dr. Tyagi.
“A country’s digital identity is becoming just as important as its physical identity.”
He further explains that the new .IN Auction Portal brings greater transparency and fairness to the allocation of premium domain names through a fully digital process. “It gives businesses, startups and entrepreneurs equal access to valuable digital assets while making the process more efficient and transparent.”
The Auction Portal is part of NIXI’s larger effort to continuously modernise India’s domain ecosystem. Along with initiatives such as the AI-Powered WHOIS Screening Platform, multilingual domain support and improved digital services, it reflects a commitment to building a secure, transparent and globally competitive internet ecosystem that supports India’s long-term digital growth.
Through this aggressive modernization of its digital backbone, India is successfully transitioning from a massive consumer of technology to a highly disciplined, sovereign architect of internet infrastructure. By seamlessly blending cutting-edge AI with hyper-localized linguistic accessibility and rigorous operational transparency, NIXI is doing more than just preventing cyber threats, it is democratizing digital economic mobility. As the .IN registry scales global leaderboards and IPv6 adoption hits record highs, these unified platforms ensure that India’s massive internet footprint remains resilient, inclusive, and fully prepared to power tomorrow’s global digital economy.
