India’s Leadership in Global AI Governance

Table of contents

The third edition of the AI Action Summit has commenced in Paris, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chairing the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. This summit marks a significant step in global AI governance, especially in light of emerging competition from China’s DeepSeek model.

Paris AI Action Summit 2025: Key Objectives

Building on the foundations of the Bletchley and Seoul Summits, the Paris AI Summit 2025 aims to shape the future of artificial intelligence through three core objectives:

Democratising AI Access: ensuring that AI remains safe, reliable, and independent and accessible to a wide range of users across industries and regions.
Sustainable AI Development: Promoting AI models that are environmentally responsible, optimising energy efficiency while reducing carbon footprints.
Inclusive AI Governance: Establishing a global regulatory framework that ensures fair participation from all nations, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.

The summit will focus on five key themes: Public Service AI (governance, healthcare, education), Future of Work (AI’s impact on jobs and skills), Innovation & Culture (research and ethical AI use), Trust in AI (biases and misinformation), and Global AI Governance (international AI regulations).

Global AI Developments

US Investment in AI: The Stargate initiative aims to create 100,000 jobs and establish dominance in AI and semiconductor research.
China’s AI Growth: DeepSeek, a cost-efficient AI model, competes with OpenAI using fewer resources.
Export Controls on AI Hardware: The US AI diffusion rule places India under Tier II, restricting access to advanced GPUs.

AI, Geopolitics and National Security

AI as a Strategic Tool: Nations leverage AI for military, cybersecurity, and surveillance, making access a national security concern.
Defense Applications: AI-driven cybersecurity and defense solutions are crucial for national security and technological sovereignty.

Global AI Safety Efforts

International AI Safety Institutes: Formed in 2024 to set AI safety standards, but India is not a member, limiting its influence.
Seoul Statement of Intent: Nations pledged global AI safety cooperation, but India remains excluded.
Risks of Non-Engagement: Without active participation, India risks losing access to AI advancements and regulatory influence.

India’s Strategic Rise in Global AI Governance

Leadership in AI Policy: India actively participates in Bletchley Park, Seoul AI Summits, and G20, advocating AI safety, risk mitigation, and multilateral cooperation.
AI Safety & Ethical Frameworks: Launched India’s AI Safety Institute and National AI Strategy (NITI Aayog) to promote trustworthy AI development.
Championing Equitable AI Access: Leads efforts in GPAI, ensuring AI infrastructure, digital inclusion, and accessibility for the Global South.
Strengthening AI Infrastructure: Investing in the IndiaAI Mission (₹10,000 crore) and the India Semiconductor Mission to boost domestic AI and chip innovation.

Need for AI Growth

Economic Growth & Competitiveness: AI can add $500 billion to India’s GDP (NASSCOM), with firms like TCS and Reliance Jio integrating AI into industries.
National Security & Autonomy: AI is critical for defense, cybersecurity, and surveillance, with DRDO’s AI-based threat detection and HAL’s Combat Air Teaming System (CATS).
Solving Societal Challenges: AI-driven Aarogya Setu for COVID tracking, Microsoft & ICRISAT’s AI for 90% accurate crop failure prediction, and Wadhwani AI for tuberculosis screening.
Edge in Emerging Technologies: AI powers UPI fraud detection, ISRO’s satellite analysis, and Indian Railways’ predictive maintenance, supported by the ₹10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission.

India’s AI Strengths

Largest AI Workforce: India has 420,000 AI professionals, surpassing major global tech hubs.
Highest AI Adoption: 92% of Indian enterprises use AI, the highest adoption rate globally.
Expanding AI Market: The AI market is valued at $17 billion, with over 240 AI startups in healthcare (e.g., Niramai), language AI (e.g., Sarvam AI), and accessibility (e.g., BHASHINI).
Robust Digital Infrastructure: Platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, and DPI enable AI-driven financial inclusion and digital payments.

India’s AI Challenges

Reliance on Foreign AI Models & Talent: India depends on OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and foreign-trained AI researchers.
Limited AI Infrastructure & Research Ecosystem: Lack of high-performance computing clusters, AI research labs, and semiconductor fabrication plants.
Need for AI Regulation & Risk Governance: Absence of a clear legal framework for responsible AI development, ethical concerns, and security risks.

Way Forward: Positioning India as a Global AI Leader

Invest in AI-First Research: Develop indigenous AI models, chipsets, and supercomputing clusters to reduce dependency on foreign AI.
Strengthen Global AI Partnerships: Collaborate with the US, EU, and Japan for AI joint ventures, semiconductor research, and regulatory alignment.
Develop a Strong Talent & Research Ecosystem: Establish AI research labs, retain top AI talent, and fund PhD-level AI research.
Ensure Ethical AI Governance: Formulate a clear AI policy, establish an AI Risk Assessment System, and set up the India AI Council for oversight.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly stated, “India’s techade is here, and AI will be the driving force of progress.” By fostering innovation, global partnerships, and ethical AI governance, India is poised to lead the next era of AI-driven transformation, ensuring that technology serves humanity responsibly and inclusively.

Reference: The Indian Express | The Hindu

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 75

Q. India’s participation in global AI governance is crucial for shaping an inclusive and ethical AI future. Discuss the significance of the Paris AI Summit 2025 in this context and outline India’s key contributions. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Briefly Introduce the answer by showing the criticality of MGNREGS for livelihood & economic stability.
Body: Define the significance and India’s key contribution to global AI governance.
Conclusion: Write a way forward & conclude appropriately by highlighting the relevance of this summit for India.