Context:
Building on the success of its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) such as Aadhaar, UPI, and digital governance platforms, India is positioning itself to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The emphasis is on data sovereignty, green AI infrastructure, and citizen-centric AI applications, ensuring that AI development aligns with national priorities, constitutional values, and inclusive growth.
Key Highlights:
AI Built on India’s Digital Infrastructure Model
- India plans to extend its DPI success to the AI ecosystem.
- Focus on AI systems governed by Indian laws, hosted and regulated domestically.
- Aims to retain strategic control over data, algorithms, and platforms.
Data Sovereignty and National Security
- Emphasis on data jurisdiction to ensure:
- Protection of citizens’ data
- Compliance with Indian legal frameworks
- Safeguarding national security interests
- Encourages development of indigenous AI capabilities.
Green AI Infrastructure
- Proposal to build energy-efficient data centres powered by renewable energy.
- Aligns AI growth with India’s climate commitments.
- Creates investment opportunities in:
- Solar and wind energy
- Cooling technologies
- Sustainable computing hardware
Citizen-Centric AI Vision
- Target of providing every Indian with a multilingual AI agent.
- AI agents to assist in:
- Agriculture (crop advisory, weather insights)
- Education (personalised learning)
- Healthcare (preventive care, diagnostics support)
- Governance (service delivery, grievance redressal)
Economic and Strategic Ambitions
- India aims to move up the AI value chain:
- Data infrastructure
- Foundation model development
- Domain-specific AI applications
- Focus on inclusive, responsible, and transparent AI deployment.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Global competition in AI leadership
- Causes: Rapid AI adoption, data-driven economies, strategic technology race
- Government/Policy Direction:
- Leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure for AI
- Emphasis on data sovereignty and green computing
- Benefits:
- Technological self-reliance
- Inclusive AI access for citizens
- Economic growth and job creation
- Challenges:
- High energy and capital requirements
- Need for skilled workforce
- Balancing innovation with regulation
- Impact:
- Strengthened digital governance
- Enhanced global strategic positioning
Relevant Mains Points:
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI):
- Shared digital platforms enabling scale and interoperability
- Foundation for public service delivery and innovation
- Foundation Models:
- Large-scale AI models trained on vast datasets
- Enable diverse AI applications across sectors
- Data Sovereignty:
- Data governed by domestic laws
- Critical for privacy, security, and strategic autonomy
- Keywords & Concepts:
- Responsible AI
- Algorithmic transparency
- Green computing
- Multilingual AI
- Way Forward:
- Invest in indigenous foundation models
- Expand green data centre infrastructure
- Strengthen AI governance frameworks
- Promote public–private collaboration
- Ensure ethical, inclusive, and citizen-first AI deployment
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 3: Science & Technology, AI, digital economy
- GS 2: Governance, digital public goods, data regulation
- GS 3 (Economy): Innovation-led growth, green investments
- Prelims: DPI, AI concepts, data sovereignty