Mumbai: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) have announced a strategic collaboration to host the inaugural Earth Summit 2025-26, an annual multi-city initiative aimed at advancing rural development through technology, innovation, and policy engagement.
The first edition of Earth Summit 2025-26 is designed to strengthen rural transformation by bringing together stakeholders from agriculture, climate action, technology, and finance.
Earth Summit 2025-26 to Empower Rural Innovation
The summit will span three major conferences to be held in Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, and New Delhi from November 2025 to February 2026, under the theme “Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change.”
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The initiative will spotlight transformative solutions emerging from farmer collectives, women entrepreneurs, startups, and grassroots communities while creating platforms that encourage investments, policy insights, and global collaboration.
Shaji K V, Chairman of NABARD, highlighted the summit’s role in linking knowledge, technology, and finance to strengthen rural communities. He noted that the partnership with IAMAI reflects NABARD’s commitment to ensuring that rural innovation becomes a global catalyst for sustainable development.
IAMAI President, Dr Subho Ray, emphasized that Earth Summit 2025-26 will demonstrate how India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can scale inclusive innovation across regions, particularly in the Global South. He expressed gratitude to NABARD for supporting this annual initiative.
Earth Summit 2025-26: Event Schedule Across Three Cities
- Hyderabad: November 20–21, 2025, HITEX Exhibition Centre
- Gandhinagar: December 5–6, 2025, Mahatma Mandir
- New Delhi: February 2026 (Final national conference)
Across these three conferences, the Earth Summit 2025-26 will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors, innovators, startup founders, NGOs, and academics.
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Program Highlights of Earth Summit 2025-26
The summit will host an extensive range of activities including:
- Speaking sessions with global and national leaders
- Exhibitions and product showcases
- Hackathons and innovation challenges
- Startup–investor connect programmes
- Workshops, masterclasses, and knowledge-sharing forums
Estimated participation:
- Delegates: 10,000
- Speakers: 500+
- Exhibitors: 250+
- Workshops & Masterclasses: 30+
- Hackathons: 2
