RMAI’s Digital Dot Rural Conference 2025 sparks roadmap for a digitally inclusive Bharat

The Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) concluded its flagship Digital Dot Rural Conference 2025 at the India Habitat Centre with a bold agenda to reimagine India’s digital future—rural first. The conference convened over 300 delegates across sectors to shape a collaborative, tech-led, and insight-driven approach to inclusive rural growth.

The event featured nine dynamic sessions, ranging from Digital Financial Inclusion, AI in Agri- Food Systems, ONDC & Rural Commerce, to Bridging the Brand Trust Gap in Rural India.

The day culminated with the release of the Digital Dot Rural Action Framework 2025–2030, a shared vision to scale digital inclusion, livelihoods, and innovation across India’s villages.

In his opening remarks, RMAI President Puneet Vidyarthi emphasized, “India’s real digital transformation will begin where it’s needed most—at the grassroots. We must go beyond pilots and bring scale to rural enablement.”

Sanjay Kaul, chairperson – National Advisory Council, RMAI, added, “We need human-first, language-respecting, and trust-led tech that makes digital truly inclusive. Rural India is not a market waiting to be tapped—it’s a movement ready to lead.”

Keynote speakers and institutional leaders included:  Amitabh Nag, CEO – BHASHINI division & director, Digital India Corporation “Highlighted how multilingual AI is dismantling language barriers, enabling last-mile access to information, commerce, and services” .

Nitin Nair, senior vice president – Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), “Spoke on how ONDC is democratising digital commerce, allowing rural producers, SHGs, and micro-entrepreneurs to access wider markets without platform monopolies”.

Jyoti Sharma, CEO – Nasscom Foundation, “Shared frameworks on aligning CSR with digital skilling, tech-enabled livelihoods, and social innovation in underserved rural regions.”

A key theme was the role of data in driving impact. Sessions featuring NielsenIQ and Kantar showcased how granular rural insights are transforming distribution planning, media strategy, and measurement for brands aiming to scale in Tier III–VI markets.

The event concluded with the “Champions of Digital Bharat Transformation” Awards, honouring outstanding contributors in digital enablement across sectors.