"AI is the most profound technology humanity is working on." - Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google
Shift toward structured governance
India marked 2025 as a pivotal year for technology. The government prioritized artificial intelligence by establishing a clear governance framework. This approach moves away from a standalone law, opting instead to manage growth through existing legal channels to foster innovation while ensuring safety. Though there was no "National AI Strategy", but a National AI Mission existed.
Future of innovation
The IndiaAI Mission represents a significant investment of Rs.10,300 crore . This initiative focuses on building essential computing infrastructure and supporting local innovators. By providing access to high performance GPUs, the country is working toward achieving AI sovereignty and resilience in a global market.
Strengthening digital data protection
A major milestone is the notification of rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. These rules provide a roadmap for handling individual digital data within AI systems. Officials are also exploring licensing mechanisms for copyrighted data used in training generative models to protect intellectual property.
Leveraging existing legal domains
Legal experts note that India prefers a gradual alignment of current laws over a standalone statute. By utilizing domains like data protection and intermediary obligations, the policy allows the ecosystem to scale without premature restrictions. This strategy requires constant consensus building between the government and industry stakeholders.
Addressing remaining safety gaps
Critical questions remain regarding liability for automated decisions and the ownership of AI generated content. Experts emphasize the need for an independent AI Safety Institute to monitor emerging risks. Addressing potential biases and protecting vulnerable communities will be essential as this technology becomes more integrated.
Summary
India is advancing its AI ecosystem through the IndiaAI Mission and the newly notified DPDP Act rules. By leveraging existing legal frameworks instead of a standalone law, the government seeks to balance innovation with data privacy, though challenges regarding liability and AI sovereignty still persist.
Food for thought
As India avoids a standalone AI law, will existing frameworks be agile enough to prevent harm before it occurs?
AI concept to learn: IndiaAI Mission
The IndiaAI Mission is India’s national artificial intelligence initiative approved in March 2024 with a ₹10,371 crore budget
to build a strong, inclusive AI ecosystem. It aims to democratize
access to compute (like GPUs), improve data quality, attract talent,
support startups, foster indigenous AI technologies, and drive socially
impactful applications across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture,
and governance. The mission also emphasizes ethical AI and responsible
innovation.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. Various sources are used. All copyrights acknowledged. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
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