India, May 20 -- At Bharat Digital Samvad 2026, A sharpest moment came when speakers warned that India's digital backbone could be switched off remotely: a kill switch risk that underscored the country's growing dependence on foreign‑controlled cloud and AI systems. From banking and telecom to energy and public infrastructure, panelists argued that sovereignty is no longer about where servers sit, but about who holds the keys to encryption, governance, and operational control.

That question dominated discussions at Bharat Digital Samvad 2026, organised by the Bharath Digital Infrastructure Association (BDIA). The event brought together policymakers, cloud providers, cybersecurity firms, startup founders, academics, and digital gove...