NABARD and IAMAI Launch Earth Summit 2025-26 to Empower Rural Innovation and Sustainable Transformation – Indian PSU
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) have come together to launch the inaugural Earth Summit 2025-26, an annual initiative designed to empower rural innovation and showcase transformative solutions emerging from farmer collectives, women entrepreneurs, and local communities.
The first edition of this three-city conference series is set to take place at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, on November 20–21, 2025, bringing together leading voices from across technology, finance, agriculture, and sustainability to redefine the future of rural development.
Presented under the theme ‘Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change’, the Earth Summit aims to become a global platform for actionable policy outcomes, targeted investments, and collaborations that accelerate rural transformation. The initiative will explore how technology-led, climate-aligned, and community-driven solutions can shape a more sustainable and inclusive rural economy.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Shaji K.V., Chairman, NABARD, said: “The Earth Summit is a step towards building a future where rural innovation drives sustainable global growth. NABARD’s vision has always been to strengthen the rural economy by connecting knowledge, technology, and finance to empower communities at the grassroots. Through this initiative, we aim to create a vibrant platform for collaboration, bringing together ideas, investments, and policy insights that can turn rural potential into real-world progress. Our partnership with IAMAI reflects NABARD’s belief that inclusive development in villages can become the cornerstone of global transformation.”
Dr. Subho Ray, President, IAMAI, added: “The primary idea behind the Earth Summit is to chart a way forward to turn local innovation into lasting change, shaping a rural economy that is sustainable, equitable, and globally relevant. Anchored in India’s phenomenal success with the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the conferences will demonstrate how inclusive innovation can scale across geographies, especially across the Global South. We are thankful to NABARD for being our partner in this unique annual initiative.”
Following Hyderabad, the second conference in the series will be hosted at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, on December 5–6, 2025, culminating in the national-level finale in New Delhi in February 2026.
Across all three locations, the Earth Summit 2025-26 will convene policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors, innovators, startup founders, NGOs, and academia. In addition to speaker sessions, the conferences will feature hackathons, startup-investor connect programmes, exhibitions, and product showcases, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for rural innovators to collaborate, exhibit, and scale their solutions.
The Earth Summit 2025-26 marks a significant step toward fostering grassroots-driven innovation and accelerating India’s journey toward sustainable rural development.
