Archive · 9 Oct 2026
India Outlines Three-Pronged Strategy for Sovereign AI
India is preparing rules for how artificial intelligence should be used.
A paper about the rules is expected next month.
It will look at safety, cybersecurity, deepfakes, and ways AI can cause harm.
The government also wants people in different parts of society to benefit from AI.
Officials say some AI services could send Indian data outside the country.
India is exploring open AI models and wants to build more of the technology at home.
This includes computers, data, models, and applications.
India has more than 38,000 special AI chips called GPUs and aims to have about 100,000 by the end of 2026.
The government says AI could add $1.7 trillion to India's economy by 2035.
A consultation paper on AI regulation is expected next month, covering safety, cybersecurity, harms, and access to benefits.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government studied how digital tools could reach underserved populations with the World Bank.
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan warned that proprietary AI models can risk transferring Indian data abroad and learning from it.
India is pursuing open-source and open-weight models and domestic development across the AI technology stack.
India has deployed more than 38,000 GPUs and is targeting roughly 100,000 by the end of 2026.
- Who
- The Indian government, including Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan.
- What
- India is preparing AI regulation and pursuing domestic AI capabilities, data sovereignty, and expanded GPU capacity.
- When
- The consultation paper is expected next month; the GPU target is for the end of 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- To address AI safety and harms, extend benefits to society, reduce data-transfer risks, and preserve strategic autonomy.
- Consultation paper
- Expected next month; planned coverage includes AI safety, cybersecurity, benefits, harms, and access.
- IndiaAI Mission budget
- Rs 10,371.92 crore over five years; launched in March 2024.
- Current GPU deployment
- More than 38,000 GPUs, according to officials.
- GPU target
- Roughly 100,000 GPUs by the end of 2026.
- Economic projection
- AI could add $1.7 trillion to India's economy by 2035, according to projections shared by the government.
- Data sovereignty concern
- Officials warned that proprietary AI models may transfer Indian data abroad and learn from data provided to them.
- Semicon 2.0
- The article reports an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore and 12 approved manufacturing projects with Rs 1.64 lakh crore in committed investment.