India’s Comprehensive Plan for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development and Governance: Constitution of four Committees for promoting AI initiatives and developing a policy framework (public consultation is open)

India is actively embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive economic growth and societal progress. Recognizing its potential to revolutionize industries and boost productivity, the government is taking a strategic approach to foster AI innovation while ensuring responsible implementation. This commitment is evident in the establishment of four committees, by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), dedicated to addressing key aspects of AI, such as building essential infrastructure, leveraging AI for national missions, assessing technological capabilities, and developing a skilled workforce.

These committees will play a crucial role in shaping India’s comprehensive AI governance framework. This framework will prioritize ethical considerations, legal clarity, and societal well-being, ensuring AI applications are fair, unbiased, and respect human rights. By proactively addressing potential challenges like job displacement and data privacy, India aims to harness the transformative power of AI for the benefit of its citizens and economy, while upholding ethical and societal values.

MeitY has also published the subcommittee’s report for public consultation to ensure that the governance mechanisms reflect India’s aspirations. This public consultation aims to facilitate the creation of a robust, inclusive, and adaptive framework for technological advancements. The Last date for providing comments is 27 Jan 2025.

MeitY, had earlier established “India AI”, an Independent Business Division (India AI) under Digital India Corporation for implementing the India AI mission. The India AI Mission aims to create a robust ecosystem that accelerates AI innovation through strategic initiatives and collaborations spanning both public and private domains. Government of India had earlier also approved the IndiaAI Mission to democratize access to AI innovation pillars and ensure global competitiveness of India’s AI ecosystem catalyzing AI innovation through strategic programs and partnerships across the public and private sectors. By democratizing computing access, improving data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, enabling industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects and bolstering ethical AI, it will drive responsible, inclusive growth of India’s AI ecosystem.

The Committee, so constituted will review the public feedbacks and place same before the Government for a comprehensive publication of essential notification. The India AI mission will then subsequently become the custodian and stakeholder in fostering AI adoption while also ensuring and safeguarding ethical, legal, and societal principles. The terms of reference to the committee includes: (a) identify Key areas of applications for AI technologies and make suitable recommendation/suggestions for the faster adoption of AI in these areas. (b) identify areas in Government systems where AI techniques can be deployed to lower cost and improved service. (c) suggest technical framework/ platform for AI. This would also address data availability resources. (d) recommend policy relating to legal framework, data privacy and Cyber Security issues. (e) suggest ways to address /concern about use of AI employability, skilling and Re-Skilling challenges. (f) recommend R&D framework for promoting research in the AI areas and setting up of Centre of Excellence (CoE) in these areas.

Please Click below links to view the documents on the the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) website https://www.meity.gov.in/

• • OFFICE MEMORANDUM – Constitution of four Committees for promoting Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives and developing a policy framework.(447.58 KB)

The Committees after having done the priliminary study and deliberation has already submitted the reports, which are available for viewing/downloading. Citizens can submit feedback/comments/suggestions on the publication for consideration by the Committee/MeitY (Click Below to view the respective document on MeitY website):

• • Report of committee – A on platforms and data on Artificial Intelligence(422.51 KB)
  • Report of committee – B on leveraging Artificial Intelligence for identifying national missions in key sectors(458.74 KB)
  • Report of committee – C on mapping technological capabilities, key policy enablers required across sectors, skilling, reskill(1.32 MB)
  • Report of committee – D on cyber security, safety, legal and ethical issues(824.23 KB)