Archive · 25 Aug 2026
India Expands AI Ambitions While Risks Outpace Policy
India is investing a lot of money to build and use artificial intelligence.
The country plans to create powerful computers, shared data systems and AI research centers.
Companies and researchers are also developing AI models for English and Indian languages.
AI could help doctors find cancer and could make India’s economy much bigger.
But the technology can also make fake videos, spread election lies or influence decisions about loans and jobs.
India has opened an AI Safety Institute and is funding projects to find deepfakes and reduce unfair bias.
The government released AI governance guidelines in November 2025.
These steps aim to make AI safer, but the technology is developing faster than policies can keep up.
India’s AI Mission is backed by more than ₹10,372 crore and plans to build over 45,000 GPUs.
The initiative includes the AI Kosh database platform, 58 AI Centers of Excellence and 20 core AI foundation models.
Sarvam’s 105-billion-parameter model and smaller models for local languages are among the projects being developed.
An AI Safety Institute and 13 responsible-AI projects are testing deepfake detection and methods to reduce bias.
NITI Aayog estimates AI could add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2035, while new governance guidelines emphasize safe and inclusive use.
- Who
- The Indian government, NITI Aayog, AI researchers and companies including Sarvam are involved.
- What
- India is expanding its AI infrastructure, models and safety programs while developing governance guidelines.
- When
- The article describes the current situation in India and notes that governance guidelines were released in November 2025.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- To capture AI’s economic and social benefits while addressing risks including deepfakes, misinformation, extortion and biased decisions.
AI’s Potential
AI’s Risks
Economic and social benefits
AI’s Potential
AI could help diagnose cancer and, according to NITI Aayog, add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2035.
AI’s Risks
AI can be used to create fake videos, extort students, spread election misinformation and influence loan or employment decisions.
Government preparation
AI’s Potential
India is building GPUs, an AI database platform, research centers, foundation models and an AI Safety Institute, alongside new governance guidelines.
AI’s Risks
The article argues that AI is advancing faster than policy documentation, so existing measures may not keep pace with emerging risks.
Responsible development
AI’s Potential
Thirteen projects are testing deepfake detectors and approaches to reducing bias, while the guidelines emphasize safe, inclusive and responsible AI.
AI’s Risks
The existence of projects targeting deepfakes and bias highlights that harmful or unfair uses are already present rather than merely hypothetical.
- AI Mission funding
- More than ₹10,372 crore
- Planned computing capacity
- More than 45,000 GPUs
- AI Centers of Excellence
- 58 centers
- Foundation models
- 20 core AI foundation models are in development
- Safety projects
- 13 responsible-AI projects
- Estimated economic impact
- NITI Aayog says AI could add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2035
- Governance guidelines
- IndiaAI Governance Guidelines were released in November 2025