India’s Principal Scientific Adviser, Ajay Kumar Sood, addressed a conference emphasizing India’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) governance. Sood highlighted that AI governance is now a crucial aspect of national economic and strategic policies, moving beyond isolated use cases to become a digital backbone of economies worldwide. He noted the significant growth in global AI adoption, investment in generative AI, and the escalating energy needs of data centers.
India’s AI governance strategy focuses on safety, accountability, transparency, and inclusion while fostering innovation. The country’s AI policy is being executed through the IndiaAI Mission initiated in 2024, which includes initiatives like shared compute access, unified data platforms, indigenous model development, and workforce skilling. India has also made high-performance computing accessible to startups, researchers, and universities at subsidized rates, reducing costs significantly compared to global averages.
Sood mentioned that India’s national AI data platform hosts numerous datasets and models across various sectors, supporting domestic innovation. Additionally, India is actively investing in AI education and participating in global standard-setting efforts, including engagement with international AI standards bodies. Recently, India released a National AI Governance Report that adopts a “techno-legal” approach combining legal oversight with technical solutions to enable innovation at scale while managing risks effectively.
Looking forward to the AI Impact Summit, Sood expressed India’s goal of promoting a global vision where AI acts as a universal enabler for development. The summit aims to democratize access to essential AI resources such as compute power, data, and foundational models, ensuring these resources are widely available for developing context-specific solutions. Sood highlighted the importance of global governance, sustainability, and safety in AI development, emphasizing the active participation of developing countries to drive progress and shared public value.
