India’s AI Governance Landscape: Vision and Context
India is rapidly emerging as one of the most influential players in global AI governance. With its constitutional democracy, vast digital public infrastructure, and active civil society, India is shaping an AI future that reflects its scale, diversity, and values. Positioned between global tech powers and the Global South, India offers a unique model of AI development rooted in rights, responsibility, and innovation.
AI Governance in India
🏛️ National Initiatives
🌐 National AI Strategy (“AI for All”) – Launched by NITI Aayog in 2018, India’s flagship AI strategy prioritizes inclusive growth in healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, and mobility. It emphasizes responsible AI, data ethics, and indigenous innovation.
🌐 IndiaAI Mission (MeitY) – A comprehensive initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to support AI R&D, innovation ecosystems, and international AI diplomacy. The mission includes a National Data Management Office and plans for an IndiaAI Innovation Centre.
🌐 DPDP Act 2023 – India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act lays the legal groundwork for AI-related data governance, privacy, and accountability frameworks.
🌐 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on AI – Development of national standards for trustworthy AI, including technical guidance, risk management, and interoperability protocols.
AI Ethics: Indian Perspectives
🇮🇳 Constitutional & Cultural Foundations
Rooted in the Indian Constitution, ethical AI in India emphasizes:
- 🕊️ Fundamental Rights: Freedom of speech, equality, and privacy
- ⚖️ Social Justice: Inclusion of marginalized communities and linguistic diversity
- 🧘🏾 Cultural Pluralism: Designing AI systems in alignment with India’s socio-cultural heterogeneity
Initiatives also explore ethical AI from Indic philosophical traditions, including concepts like Dharma (ethical duty), Nyaya (justice), and Lok Kalyan (public good).
AI Innovations and Applications
🌆 Smart Governance
🌍 Aadhaar & India Stack – The world’s largest digital identity and public infrastructure framework supports AI-powered governance across banking, health, and welfare.
🌍 AI in eCourts – India’s judiciary is piloting AI for legal search, case prediction, and virtual hearings (e.g. SUPACE by the Supreme Court).
🌍 Smart Cities Mission – AI used for traffic optimization, waste management, surveillance, and energy efficiency in over 100 Indian cities.
🏥 Healthcare
🌍 eSanjeevani – A national telemedicine platform enhanced by AI for diagnosis and health monitoring, serving over 120 million consultations.
🌍 AI for TB & Cancer Detection – Public-private initiatives use machine learning for early detection of tuberculosis and cervical cancer, in partnership with WHO and NGOs.
📚 Education
🌍 DIKSHA Platform – India’s national digital learning platform integrates AI for adaptive learning and accessibility in 35+ languages.
🌍 AI Curriculum (CBSE & NCERT) – National school boards have launched AI modules to build digital literacy and responsible AI understanding from secondary level.
Network and Partnerships
🔬 Key Institutions
🌍 IITs & IIITs – Leading AI research centers in ethics, NLP, robotics, and computer vision (e.g., IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIIT Hyderabad)
🌍 C-DAC & MeitY – Government agencies driving supercomputing, indigenous language processing, and AI security tools
🌍 NASSCOM & AIM – Industry and innovation platforms promoting responsible AI innovation, incubation, and global competitiveness
🤝 Collaborative Initiatives
🌍 India-EU AI Partnership – Joint working groups on ethical AI standards, transparency, and regulation
🌍 Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) – India is a founding member and current Chair (as of 2023), shaping global guidelines on responsible AI
🌍 Bhashini Mission – National initiative for AI-driven multilingual language translation tools and inclusive digital public services
🌍 Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE) – A national conference series connecting policymakers, innovators, and citizens to shape people-centric AI
Resources and Further Reading