Introduction
India stands at the cusp of a transformation. NITI Aayog’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (NSAI), highlights how AI can change different sectors, points out the main hurdles to using it, and suggests steps for research, training, wider adoption, and ethical use. Work is ongoing towards providing an accessible AI ecosystem with affordable computing power, GPUs, and research opportunities.
This vision supports the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, with India striving to be a world leader in AI.
Policy Framework & Infrastructure
Through its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, NITI Aayog laid the foundation of India’s AI governance.
Multiple Centers of Excellence (CoEs) for sector-specific AI applications have been established.
As outlined in the 2025–26 Union Budget, five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, will be created. The program focuses on developing job-ready capabilities in India’s youth while supporting the larger ‘Make for India, Make for the World’ vision.
The IndiaAI Mission
India’s AI strategy materialized on March, 2024, with the launch of the IndiaAI Mission. This mission provides students, startups, and innovators with advanced AI infrastructure.
Figure 1 IndiaAI GPU Network
A revolutionary aspect of this initiative is the launch of an open GPU marketplace, ensuring that high-performance computing is accessible to all stakeholders.
Indigenous AI Development and Language Technologies
India supports indigenous AI models, including Large Language Models (LLMs), and domain-specific solutions. Key initiatives include BharatGen for public services, BHASHINI for multilingual access, and Sarvam-1 AI Model for Indian languages.
Figure 2 India’s Indigenous AI Development
Ensuring Inclusive AI Beyond Language and Culture
Though India’s focus on language inclusivity is commendable through multi-lingual AI models, there is a growing need to broaden inclusion to marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and economically disadvantaged communities.
Data Infrastructure and Open Access Initiatives
Recognizing data as the foundation of AI development, India has launched the IndiaAI Dataset Platform. The platform is designed to offer smooth access to high-quality, non-personal datasets.
Integration with Digital Public Infrastructure
In India, AI governance takes a unique path by linking with the country’s proven Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Foundational tools such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker provide the base, enabling private players to design sector-specific applications. The addition of AI makes these services more intelligent and impactful, particularly in finance and governance sector.
The practical implementation of AI-driven DPI was demonstrated at Mahakumbh 2025, where AI-powered tools monitored real-time movement and the BHASHINI Kumbh Sah’AI’yak Chatbot enabled multilingual services.
Pragmatic Regulatory Approach
India’s pragmatic approach to AI governance balances with accountability. Top institutions such as IITs and other leading universities, are being funded to design solutions that address deepfakes, privacy risks, and cybersecurity threats in a scalable and context-sensitive manner.
MeitY’s guidelines include eight principles: transparency, accountability, safety and reliability, privacy and security, fairness and non-discrimination, human-centered values, inclusive innovation, and digital-by-design governance.
Addressing AI Adoption Challenges and Societal Risks
While India’s AI blueprint is ambitious, it is vital to openly acknowledge the multifaceted challenges accompanying AI adoption. Complexities in data governance, regulation, and privacy require continuous evolution to prevent misuse and bias. Additionally, the energy consumption footprint of AI infrastructure must be considered to align with India’s climate commitments. Socially, AI-driven automation poses risks of job displacement, particularly for entry-level roles, necessitating proactive workforce transition strategies and social protection policies to mitigate adverse effects on vulnerable populations.
Call for National-Level Democratic Oversight and Strategic Coordination
India’s sustainable AI advancement requires institutionalizing democratic oversight through formal governance mechanisms, potentially including parliamentary supervision of AI policy. Enacting a comprehensive national AI framework through inclusive stakeholder consultation would enhance accountability, transparency, and cross-sectoral coordination. Such democratically-legitimized governance structures would better equip India to address AI ethics, protect citizen rights, and preserve strategic independence in the global AI landscape.
Conclusion
India’s AI strategy balances innovation with responsibility and aligns growth with social welfare. Its success depends on cooperation among Government, Industry, Academia, and Civil Society. By prioritizing “AI for All,” India positions AI as a tool of empowerment and global leadership.
References
(i) Beijing Internet Court. (2023). Li v. Liu.
(ii) Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. (2024). India’s Advance on AI Regulation. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
(iii) Council of the European Union. (2024). Policy questionnaire on the relationship between generative Artificial Intelligence and copyright. Council of the European Union.
(iv) Ethics of AI in Public Policy in the Indian context. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ispp.org.in/ethics-of-ai-in-public-policy-in-the-indian-context/.
(v) Governance Now. (2024, November 19). Governance Now. AI and the copyright dilemma: What India needs to do.
(vi) ICLG. (2024). Copyright Laws and Regulations Report 2025 India. Global Legal Insights.
(vii) India’s Advance on AI Regulation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/11/indias-advance-on-ai-regulation?lang=en.
(viii) Indian Journal of Law and Technology. (2024). Balancing Indian Copyright Law with AI-Generated Content: The ‘Significant Human Input’ Approach. Indian Journal of Law and Technology.
(ix) Mathur, A. (2025). Recent Developments in AI, Art & Copyright: Copyright Office Report & New Registrations. Center for Art Law.
(x) Matt Blaszczyk, G. M. (2024). Artificial Intelligence Impacts on Copyright Law. Rand Corporation.
(xi) MeitY and UNESCO host stakeholder consultation on AI readiness in India at IIIT, Bengaluru. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://indiaai.gov.in/article/meity-and-unesco-host-stakeholder-consultation-on-ai-readiness-in-india-at-iiit-bengaluru.
(xii) MeitY and UNESCO host stakeholder consultation on AI readiness in India at IIIT, Bengaluru. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://indiaai.gov.in/article/meity-and-unesco-host-stakeholder-consultation-on-ai-readiness-in-india-at-iiit-bengaluru.
(xiii) Rahul Matthan and Sanah Javed. (2024). “Global AI Governance Law and Policy: India.”. International Association of Privacy Professionals.
(xiv) Report on AI governance guidelines development. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://indiaai.gov.in/article/report-on-ai-governance-guidelines-development.
(xv) U.S. Copyright Office. (2025). Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 2: Copyrightability. U.S. Copyright Office.
(xvi) UKIPO. (2024). Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Consultation. UKIPO.
(This article has been written by Astha Ojha, TAU, National e-Governance Division, MeitY. For any comments or feedback, please write to astha.ojha@digitalindia.gov.in and negdcb@digitalindia.gov.in.)
