The host of internet policy issues facing India formed the discussion agenda of this conference organised by ICRIER and the Data Catalyst Institute. The key note address was delivered by Aruna Sundararajan, Chairman DCC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Ms. Sundararajan highlighted the leap frog development and adoption of digital technologies in India. At the same time, she noted the complex dilemmas that India now faces. According to Ms. Sundararajan, the key reasons India has more at stake in its digital future are the current infrastructural deficit, the enormous appetite for data and digital technologies, and the significant impact that digital technologies have on the growth and development of the economy. She stressed the importance of digital technologies as a great leveller and their important role, particularly in financial inclusion. Ms. Sundararajan also underlined the importance of addressing tough questions on jobs, business models that undermine privacy, and finally, the security of the entire ecosystem. The key note address was followed by a panel discussion on the future of the digital economy. The discussion was moderated by Rajat Kathuria, Director & CE, ICRIER, and the panellists included Ankhi Das, Public Policy Director, India, South and Central Asia, Facebook, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India, and Sanjeev L to R: Rajat Kathuria, Aruna Sundararajan and Peter Cherukuri at the conference on Future of the Digital Economy: Cross Currents in Emerging Regimes Annual Report 2018-19 66 L to R: Dhara Snowden, Sanjay Pulipaka, Pavan K. Varma and H. K. Dua at the conference on Values in Foreign Policy: Interests and Ideals Bikchandani, Co-Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Info-Edge. The panel’s deliberations focused on international co-operation, global and regional trends, and the potential for a digital Silk Road initiative that is aligned with the vision of the Asian Century. The panellists also noted that the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on jobs is not always negative and discussed the need to revisit certain policies relating to telecommunications infrastructure, issues of intellectual property, and participation in the development of standards. In a special address, Gopalakrishnan S., Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, dwelt on the foundations of privacy in the digital economy and highlighted the efforts the government had taken to develop a framework for data protection. He pointed out that a complex effort is required to strike the right balance between nurturing the digital economy while simultaneously ensuring that the privacy of users is not compromised and that the free flow of data, economic growth and innovation are not undermined. The other discussion sessions focused on specific issues such as data localisation and encryption and the challenges of identity and authentication in the digital economy. The speakers in the panel on data security included Madan M. Oberoi, Special Commissioner of Police (Special & Tech Cell), Delhi Police, Mudit Kapoor, Associate Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Ritesh Kumar Singh, Founder and Chief Economist, Indonomics Consulting Pvt. Ltd., and Shahana Chatterji, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. The session was moderated by Deepak Maheshwari, Director Government Affairs, Symantec. The panel discussion on identity and authentication in the digital economy was moderated by Prasanto K. Roy, Senior Director, FTI Consulting and the panellists included Apar Gupta, Executive Director, Internet Freedom Foundation, Smitha Krishna Prasad, Associate Director, Centre for Communication Governance, National Law University, Delhi, Vaibhav Kakkar, Partner, L& L Partners Law Offices and Wriju Ray, Chief Business Officer, IDfy.