Dr Rajendra Pratap Gupta gets nominated to advise UN Secretary General
Geneva/ New Delhi: Former advisor to Union Health Minister of India JP Nadda in his earlier stint and a globally respected public policy leader Dr Rajendra Pratap Gupta wears many hats. This one is quite a feather in his cap. Dr Gupta will now advise UN Secretary General on global internet governance. Being an AI researcher, he might play a crucial role in making India AI-enabled in times to come.
Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, a renowned public policy leader, digital governance expert, AI researcher, healthcare futurist and whatnot , has been nominated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to serve on the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
The MAG plays a pivotal role in advising the United Nations Secretary-General on global Internet governance and digital policy issues, while also shaping the programme, strategic direction, and multistakeholder dialogue of the Internet Governance Forum — the world’s foremost platform for dialogue on the future of the Internet and digital cooperation.
The official announcement by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum can be accessed here: United Nations IGF MAG 2026 Members Announcement
Dr. Gupta’s nomination comes at a particularly critical juncture in the evolution of the digital world. As artificial intelligence, digital platforms, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital public infrastructure increasingly shape economies, societies, healthcare systems, and democracies, the role of global digital governance has become central to humanity’s future.
Commenting on the nomination, Dr. Gupta said:
“It is an honour to be nominated by the United Nations Secretary-General to serve on the MAG of the Internet Governance Forum. We are at a defining moment in human history where digital governance will shape economies, social systems, public trust, and global cooperation. This role offers an opportunity to collaboratively contribute towards building an inclusive, secure, equitable, and innovation-driven digital future for the world.”
Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta has the unique distinction of being associated with multiple multilateral bodies and global initiatives working at the intersection of technology, governance, economy, and human development. Over the years, he has worked extensively with governments, international organizations, academia, and industry leaders to shape conversations around digital transformation, artificial intelligence, Internet governance, and inclusive growth.
In 2019, he was invited by the Office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to contribute to the drafting of Bangladesh’s Artificial Intelligence policy framework. He currently chairs the Commonwealth AI Consortium for Capacity Building, which focuses on strengthening AI readiness, policy frameworks, and human capacity across nations.
An AI researcher and thought leader, Dr. Gupta is the creator of the “Functional AI Pyramid – The AI Maturity Model,” a pioneering framework that explains the progression of artificial intelligence from conversational systems to organizational intelligence. The model is increasingly being viewed as a practical roadmap for AI adoption and integration across governments, enterprises, healthcare systems, and institutional value chains.
He is also the architect of Project CREATE, a global movement advocating the use of technology for employment generation, inclusion, and connecting the unconnected. The initiative promotes the idea that digital infrastructure and AI must become tools for equitable development and decentralized economic participation rather than instruments of exclusion.
Dr. Gupta is a former Advisor to the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and has contributed to several landmark public policy and digital transformation initiatives.
He currently serves in leadership roles across several global initiatives and institutions, including as:
• Summit Chair of the Global Digital Health Summit
• Chairman of the Academy of Digital Health Sciences
• Chair of Health Parliament
• Chair of multiple Dynamic Coalitions under the Internet Governance Forum ecosystem
Widely regarded as one of the leading voices advocating the use of technology for inclusive human development, Dr. Gupta has consistently emphasized that digital technologies must serve humanity through ethical governance, equitable access, and responsible innovation.
His nomination to the MAG further reinforces the growing importance of voices from the Global South in shaping the future architecture of global digital governance and multistakeholder cooperation.
