Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma congratulated the IAA India Chapter for recognising leaders whose vision and commitment have made an impactful contribution to India’s economic and social progress, during the 2026 edition of the IAA Leadership Awards, for which he was a chief guest.

He said, “Leadership is measured not only by business success or market share. True leadership lies in the ability to inspire trust, create opportunities and build institutions that benefit society.”

Varma spoke about the importance of the advertising, media and marketing industries as the country moves towards the mission of Viksit Bharat — a vision of transforming India into a fully developed, self-reliant and industrialised nation by 2047.

“The advertising, media and marketing industries occupy a unique position – they do not merely promote products; they shape aspirations, influence consumer behaviour, drive innovation, and strengthen brands that contribute to the nation’s economic growth. India, today, is one of the world’s fastest-growing advertising markets. The country’s advertising and media industry is estimated to be worth more than 1 lakh crore, while India’s digital advertising segment is growing at one of the fastest rates globally. India has 900 million internet users, over 1.2 billion connections and one of the world’s youngest populations. The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji, at WAVES, has highlighted India’s emergence as a global hub for media and entertainment. His vision has infused new confidence in the advertising industry, encouraging it to embrace innovation, technology and authentic Indian storytelling while expanding its global footprint,” he said.

The governor also touched upon the growth of artificial intelligence and its impact on the industry.

Varma said, “The emergence of artificial intelligence and data-driven marketing is transforming the way brands engage with consumers, making creativity and innovation more important than ever before. However, advertising must uphold truthfulness, transparency and ethics, and not be misleading. The most successful brands are those that build trust, respect consumer intelligence and contribute positively to society.”

Signing off, Varma stated that the power of ideas, communication and creativity will be as important as capital and technology in the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat.

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