India Needs Strategy, Not Just AI Mission, to Lead in AI Governance
Without course correction, India risks societal instability — and falling behind in the AI-driven global order
A new analysis from the Future of India Foundation, “Governing AI in India — Why Strategy Must Precede Mission [download full report],” highlights critical gaps in India’s current approach to artificial intelligence — gaps that risk undermining both its global ambitions and domestic readiness.
The Challenge
While India has committed ₹10,372 crore through the IndiaAI Mission, it remains the only major AI power without a formally articulated national strategy, endorsed at Cabinet level, and without sustained Parliamentary engagement.
This “mission-first” approach generates three fundamental risks:
Strategic vulnerability: Growing technological dependencies could constrain India’s autonomy during future geopolitical crises
Societal disruption: Mounting evidence points to a potentially calamitous impact on jobs — especially entry-level white-collar roles — yet policy responses remain fragmented and uncoordinated
Democratic deficit: Parliamentary oversight and public consultation remain limited, especially compared to frameworks in the US, UK, and EU
Structural Deficits Demand Political Heft
India’s challenges run deeper than implementation gaps. Its AI ecosystem still lacks robust R&D capacity, advanced industrial development, and effective talent retention — structural deficits that can only be addressed through sustained political commitment and whole-of-government coordination.
Speed is critical: As global governance frameworks solidify and AI capabilities evolve rapidly, India’s window for strategic positioning is narrowing.
Crucially, AI is not comparable to the IT industry of the 1990s, where the government could simply enable private enterprise. AI is a transformative, general-purpose technology reshaping national security, economic structures, and the social contract itself. It demands proactive, coordinated governance — anchored in political consensus and policy stability.
What’s Missing
International benchmarks show that India still lacks key governance elements present in all major AI powers:
Formal government endorsement of a national strategy, with deliverables and timelines
Empowered cross-sector coordination through a legally mandated architecture
Binding implementation roadmaps with institutional accountability
Parliament’s engagement remains limited and reactive: less than 1% of Parliamentary questions address AI, and there is no dedicated institutional process for legislative oversight.
The Path Forward
Four immediate priorities emerge:
1️⃣ Develop a Cabinet-endorsed National AI Strategy, presented to Parliament
2️⃣ Empower IndiaAI with a clear inter-ministerial mandate and political backing
3️⃣ Establish a Parliamentary Standing Committee on AI to ensure democratic engagement and oversight
4️⃣ Commission a national employment impact study to inform proactive transition planning
Why This Matters
India’s demographic dividend and democratic institutions give it a unique opportunity to shape an AI trajectory that combines innovation with inclusion. But without strategic coherence, India risks policy fragmentation, emerging technological dependencies, and diminished influence in global AI governance.
As AI reshapes everything from defense to employment, governance cannot remain technocratic and opaque. India must choose between narrow administrative approaches — or a democratic, inclusive model of AI governance that advances national interests and long-term prosperity.
Read the complete report here.
Also Read:
