Teen ATP stars Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien, who will make their main draw debuts at the venue, were also named to the event, set for March 5-16.
Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one who will make her 10th career appearance at Indian Wells.
The 44-year-old American has not played in a WTA event since last March at Miami.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova returns following the birth of her first child. The 34-year-old Czech left-hander gave birth to son Petr last July and makes a 13th trip to the California desert after a 15-month maternity absence.
Fonseca, 18, won his first ATP title at last week’s Argentina Open, becoming the youngest Brazilian to capture an ATP title in the Open era.
Tien, a 19-year-old American, reached the fourth round of the Australian Open last month, becoming the youngest player to reach the second week at Melbourne since Spaniard Rafael Nadal in 2005.
