India’s AI Governance: A Critical Gap

Prepared by: Suryavanshi IAS | For: UPSC CSE (GS2, GS3, Essay, Interview)

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🔶 CONTEXT

India aspires to be a global leader in AI governance, aligning with its status as the world’s largest democracy and a tech-savvy nation. However, this ambition is not backed by a coherent national strategy, threatening both credibility and capability.

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🔶 KEY ISSUES

1. 🧭 Lack of a National AI Strategy

• Existing: IndiaAI Mission (executive-led, MeitY).

• Problem: It's an execution arm, not a strategic framework.

• Missions follow strategy — but India has reversed the order.

2. 🇮🇳 Unclear National Priorities

• What are India’s long-term AI goals?

  • Economic growth?

  • Strategic autonomy?

  • Digital inclusion?

• No defined guiding principles, values, or legislative vision.

3. 🛡️ Threat to Strategic Autonomy

• AI in defence, intelligence, finance infrastructure.

• Without indigenous capability:

  India risks dependency on foreign AI systems → geopolitical vulnerability.

4. 🗃️ Weak Data Governance

• Data = fuel for AI.

• Risks:

  • Corporate monopolies

  • Opacity in public platforms

  • Loss of public trust

5. 👷 Employment Disruption

• 2024: TCS + Infosys + Wipro = 65,000 jobs lost.

• IMF: 26% workforce exposed to AI; 12% at risk of displacement.

• No plan for:

  • Reskilling

  • Social security

  • Sector-wise transition

6. 🔋 Environmental Sustainability Ignored

• AI is energy-intensive → data centres need water & electricity.

• IEA: Data centre energy demand to double by 2030.

• India’s top AI hubs (e.g., Bengaluru) face water crises.

• No discussion in AI policies on resource sustainability.

7. ⚖️ Social Impact & Accountability

• AI entering healthcare, policing, education, welfare.

• Risks of:

  • Bias

  • Algorithmic discrimination

  • Accountability loss

• Need regulatory frameworks and ethical norms.

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🔶 ANALYSIS: India’s Global Role vs Domestic Gap

Aspect	Domestic Status	Global Expectation
Strategy	Absent	Needed to lead
Institutions	Fragmented	Require coordination
Governance	Technocratic	Must be democratic
Public trust	At risk	Needs transparency
Global South leadership	Assertive	Needs domestic credibility

🔶 SUGGESTED WAY FORWARD (3 Steps Strategy)

1. ✅ Cabinet-approved National AI Strategy

   • Tabled in Parliament

   • Anchored in national priorities, values, & ethics

2. 🏛️ Standing Committee on AI & Emerging Tech (Parliament)

   • For ethical oversight, public input, accountability

3. 📊 Impact Assessment on AI & Employment

   • Focus: White-collar job disruption

   • Sector-wise, demographic, and regional data

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🔶 UPSC LINKAGES

📌 GS Paper 2 – Governance & Polity

• Need for democratic oversight

• Role of Parliament in tech policy

• Participatory governance

📌 GS Paper 3 – Science, Tech, Environment, Economy

• AI for national security & digital economy

• Employment disruptions

• Environmental consequences of AI

📌 Essay Paper

• "Technology without strategy is chaos."

• "In the age of AI, ethics and inclusion must be by design, not afterthoughts."

📌 Interview

• Q: What should India prioritise in its AI journey?

• A: Strategic autonomy, inclusive growth, sustainable infrastructure, and ethical governance.

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🔶 PRELIMS POINTERS

Fact	Detail
IndiaAI Mission	Under MeitY, not a national strategy
IMF Data	26% of Indian jobs exposed to AI
IEA Projection	Data centre energy use to double by 2030
GPAI	India is a founding member, promotes Global South voice

🔶 FINAL WORD

India must not confuse execution with vision. A national strategy, built on democratic values, environmental consciousness, and human-centric principles, is essential if India wants to be not just AI-powered — but AI-wise.