To mark three transformative decades of mobile telephony in India, *the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), in association with the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) and the Organised Retailers Association (ORA), is organising a Mobile Conclave on 31st July 2025 in New Delhi.*

Themed *“From First Call to Digital Bharat”,* the event will honour the evolution of mobile technology from a luxury service to a national lifeline, powering India’s emergence as a global digital powerhouse.

Top leadership from Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, BSNL — the pioneers of India’s mobile revolution — will be invited to participate in the Conclave, alongside leading mobile manufacturers, communication experts, industry stakeholders, and retail sector leaders.

The event aims to bring together the full spectrum of India’s mobile ecosystem — from network providers and handset makers to retailers and innovators — in a unified celebration of the nation’s telecom journey.

31st July 1995 marked a defining moment in India’s history when the first-ever mobile phone call was made between then Union Communications Minister Shri Sukh Ram and West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Jyoti Basu, over the Modi Telstra network in Kolkata using a Nokia handset.

Shri Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament (Chandni Chowk) and Secretary General of CAIT, said “Over the past 30 years — and especially in the last decade under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi — India has become the second-largest telecom market in the world. The mobile phone, once a symbol of status, is today a tool of empowerment, inclusion, and national growth.”

“This Conclave will be a tribute to the mobile industry’s journey from a basic voice call to powering India’s digital economy.”

*“Mobile History Exhibition” – A Visual Journey*

A major attraction of the New Delhi event will be a curated ‘Mobile History Exhibition’, presenting an immersive timeline of India’s mobile evolution from 1995 to 2025, including:

• Iconic mobile handsets across three decades

• The transition from 2G to 5G and the rise of AI-driven smartphones

• Impact stories of UPI, telemedicine, rural connectivity, and digital entertainment

• Key milestones from Digital India, BharatNet, Make in India, and Startup India initiatives

The exhibition will distinctly capture two phases:

• 1995–2013: The foundational years of India’s telecom sector

• 2014–2025: The era of rapid digital acceleration under PM Modi’s leadership

Through immersive storytelling zones, the Conclave will also highlight how India’s mobile retail ecosystem evolved — from small 100 sq. ft. shops to structured national networks — enabling last-mile digital access for millions of Indians.

The Mobile Conclave will also explore future trajectories, including:

• SATCOM and 6G readiness

• AI-powered devices

• Digital skilling and youth empowerment

• Integration of mobile in e-governance, commerce, healthcare, and payments

“With rare exhibits, symbolic recreations, thought leadership dialogues, and engaging displays, this event promises to be a landmark celebration of India’s mobile journey — honouring the past, celebrating the present, and envisioning a connected, cashless, and intelligent future for Bharat,” added Shri Khandelwal.