| UPSC Mains Relevance GS Paper II:India’s role in global governance GS Paper III:Science and Technology: Developments and their applications,Issues relating to data, AI, and digital ethics |
Why in News?
India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, amid global attempts to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI). As geopolitical tensions rise and consensus on AI governance weakens, India has a rare opportunity to:
- Reassert its leadership in tech diplomacy
- Represent Global South aspirations
- Champion a democratic, inclusive, and ethical AI framework
Background: AI on the Global Stage
From Labs to Living Rooms
The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a turning point in how artificial intelligence is perceived and experienced globally. What was once confined to research labs and academic discourse quickly entered mainstream life — transforming education, business, governance, and communication.
In response to the rapid evolution and societal integration of AI, the global community has begun to treat AI as a strategic priority, initiating high-level policy dialogues and summits to shape its future.
Key Global AI Summits:
- Bletchley Park, UK (2023): Hosted the first AI Safety Summit, focusing on the governance of frontier AI models.
- Seoul, South Korea (2024): Emphasized responsible AI innovation and international cooperation.
- Paris, France (2025): Continued efforts to align global AI regulation with human rights, transparency, and ethical standards.
These summits signify a growing recognition that AI development and regulation must be both inclusive and international in nature — balancing innovation with safety, sovereignty with shared standards.
But Divisions Persist
Despite growing global engagement, consensus on AI governance remains elusive. The most recent Paris AI Summit (2025) highlighted the deepening divide among major powers.
While the summit aimed to establish common norms and safety protocols, it ended without a unified declaration. The United States and the United Kingdom opposed the final text over concerns related to regulatory overreach and sovereignty. In contrast, China endorsed the declaration, signaling divergent approaches to AI oversight.
This lack of agreement points to a broader issue — the fragmentation of global AI governance, where strategic, political, and ideological differences between nations threaten coordinated action.
India’s Strategic Advantage OR (What gives India a strategic advantage in the global AI debate?)
India stands at a crucial juncture in the global AI landscape — not just as a technology adopter, but as a bridge between developed nations and the Global South. Its unique strengths position it as a credible and inclusive voice in shaping global AI norms.
What Sets India Apart?
- Democratic Legitimacy: As the world’s largest democracy, India offers a model where technological advancement is aligned with constitutional rights and civil liberties.
- Technological Leadership: Success stories like Aadhaar (world’s largest biometric system) and UPI (world-leading digital payment interface) highlight India’s capacity to scale AI-linked infrastructure for public good.
- Voice of the Global South: India actively represents the interests of developing nations in multilateral forums, advocating for equity in AI access and governance.
- Digital Inclusion: Programs like Digital India demonstrate India’s commitment to ensuring that technology serves marginalized and rural populations.
Public Participation and Policy Innovation
The Indian government has initiated nationwide consultations through the MyGov platform, inviting inputs from:
- Students
- Startups
- Academia and researchers
- Civil society organizations
This participatory approach reflects India’s intent to create people-centric and context-sensitive AI policy frameworks.
India’s 5 Bold Ideas to Shape the Global AI Debate
As artificial intelligence redefines global power dynamics, India has a unique opportunity to lead with purpose, inclusivity, and pragmatism. Drawing from its democratic values, technological depth, and Global South leadership, India can offer a new framework for responsible and equitable AI development.
1. Pledges with Purpose: Measuring What Matters
Rather than promoting broad and vague declarations, India can push for concrete, measurable AI commitments from nations, corporations, and academic institutions. These could include:
- A tech company pledging to reduce AI-related energy consumption
- A university offering AI training programs for rural girls
- A government ensuring AI health tools are translated into local languages
Transparency Mechanism:
All pledges can be published on a public global dashboard, updated annually with a performance report card to promote accountability.
2. Putting the Global South in the Front Row
India should champion equity and inclusion in the global AI discourse, especially for underrepresented regions.
Key proposals include:
- Launching an “AI for Billions Fund”, backed by development banks and strategic partners like Gulf investors
- Hosting a Multilingual AI Challenge to build tools for 50 underserved languages
- Promoting open access to datasets, cloud credits, and global AI fellowships
Core Message: “Talent is everywhere — not just in California or Beijing.”
3. Establishing Common Safety Standards: A Global AI Safety Collaborative
There is currently no unified checklist for AI safety across countries. India can propose the creation of a Global AI Safety Collaborative aimed at:
- Sharing red teaming protocols and AI stress test results
- Publishing bias and robustness evaluations
- Defining thresholds for high-risk or high-impact AI models
🔧 Open-source safety tools developed through this platform can build global trust and improve transparency.
4. Balanced AI Governance: Advocating a Middle Path
With the global AI governance debate polarized, India can play the role of a moderate and practical voice:
| Region | Approach to AI Governance |
| USA | Resists overregulation |
| EU | Enforces strict AI Act |
| China | Relies on state control |
India can propose a Voluntary Frontier AI Code of Conduct that includes:
- Public red-team disclosures within 90 days
- Compute power usage disclosures beyond a certain threshold
- An AI “accident hotline” for coordinated global response in case of misuse or failure
5. Preventing Fragmentation: One Platform, Many Voices
To avoid a fractured global AI order, India must promote inclusive and cooperative dialogue among major powers and developing nations.
Strategic objectives:
- Build bridges between the U.S., EU, China, and the Global South
- Ensure the AI Summit agenda remains broad and people-centric
- Focus on shared public goods, not just competitive interests
Vision: A unified global approach to AI that reflects diverse voices and avoids a splintered technological future.
India’s Path Ahead
India need not pursue the creation of a centralized global AI authority. Instead, its strength lies in offering pragmatic, inclusive, and collaborative leadership that reflects its democratic ethos and developmental priorities.
A Strategic and Inclusive Approach
- Integrate Existing Initiatives: Rather than reinventing institutions, India can focus on linking current global and regional efforts to build a more cohesive AI ecosystem.
- Share AI Resources with the Global Majority: By extending its digital public infrastructure — like open-source tools, datasets, and capacity-building programs — India can empower other developing nations.
- Showcase Homegrown Models: Platforms like Aadhaar (digital identity) and UPI (digital payments) exemplify how technology can be used for scale, equity, and inclusion — offering replicable models for the Global South.
- Promote Language and Data Diversity: Push for multilingual AI models, open-access data repositories, and global norms for safe, ethical AI development — ensuring no region or group is left behind.
India’s Larger Vision
The goal is not just to host summits, but to redefine India’s identity in the digital age — as a nation that champions responsible AI, technological inclusion, and global cooperation.
India can emerge not as a regulator or bystander, but as a bridge-builder — connecting technological innovation with social justice, and global governance with local empowerment.
Conclusion: Turning Participation into Progress
The ongoing global debate on Artificial Intelligence is not merely about technology — it is about values, equity, and the future of humanity. India has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead this transformation.
If India strategically leverages its democratic credentials, technological innovations, and inclusive governance models, it can:
- ✅ Champion a people-centric and development-driven AI framework
- ✅ Act as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South, ensuring balanced participation
- ✅ Emerge as a moral and ethical voice in global AI governance
The proposed AI Summit in 2026, if hosted by India, could serve as a turning point — not just in setting global AI standards, but in redefining India’s role as a digital leader committed to safeguarding both innovation and human dignity.
| RM Mains Practice Questions 1. India has the credibility and capability to lead the global debate on inclusive and ethical Artificial Intelligence. Discuss the key principles and strategies India can adopt to shape global AI governance. (15 marks) 2. The future of Artificial Intelligence must be shaped by global cooperation, not geopolitical rivalry. Critically analyze India’s potential role as a bridge between the Global North and South in AI governance. (15 marks) |
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