As Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a defining force shaping economies, governance systems and global power dynamics, India is articulating a development- centric and inclusive pathway for AI adoption. The India AI Impact Summit marks a pivotal moment in this journey, bringing together global policymakers, multilateral institutions, industry leaders, and researchers to advance a shared dialogue on responsible and equitable AI.
At the heart of this conversation is the IndiaAI Mission, India’s flagship national initiative to build foundational AI capacity while ensuring trust, accessibility, and real-world impact at a population scale. In this interview, Shri Mohammed Y. Safirulla K., IAS, Director, IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, outlines to Garima Pant and Nijhum Rudra of Elets News Network on India’s AI journey, its alignment with Viksit Bharat 2047, its commitment to Global South leadership, and its vision for shaping a more inclusive global AI ecosystem through collaboration and shared responsibility. Edited excerpts:
As the India AI Impact Summit is launched, how does India view this moment in its AI journey?
The India AI Impact Summit marks a defining moment in India’s AI journey. It reflects the transition from strategy formulation to scaled, responsible implementation, both nationally and globally.
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For India, AI is no longer a future aspiration; it is an operational enabler of governance, economic growth and inclusion. The Summit provides a platform to present how the IndiaAI Mission is translating national priorities into action, while also inviting global collaboration around shared challenges such as access, trust and equitable growth.
How does the IndiaAI Mission align with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, particularly at this global forum?
Viksit Bharat 2047 envisions a developed India built on inclusive growth, resilient institutions and technological leadership. The IndiaAI Mission has been designed as a long-term national capability, ensuring that AI strengthens state capacity, productivity and service delivery over decades.
Launching this conversation at the India AI Impact Summit underscores India’s commitment to developing population-scale, trusted and sustainable AI. Our focus is not limited to innovation alone, but on ensuring AI contributes meaningfully to societal outcomes as India approaches its centenary of independence.
India often speaks of AI rooted in local realities. Why is this principle central to the Summit’s global narrative?
AI systems derive their value from context. India’s diversity, linguistic, cultural and economic, makes it imperative that AI solutions are locally grounded. Through IndiaAI, we are supporting the development and use of indigenous models, datasets and applications that reflect real-world conditions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and governance.
At a global level, this message resonates strongly with countries of the Global South. The Summit highlights that effective AI adoption does not require replicating models from advanced economies, but rather developing context-aware, interoperable solutions aligned with global standards.
What impact has the IndiaAI Mission already demonstrated that is relevant for global partners attending the Summit?
IndiaAI’s experience demonstrates how AI can be operationalised at scale. By expanding access to compute infrastructure, shared data platforms, and skill development, the Mission has lowered barriers to innovation across the ecosystem. More importantly, IndiaAI-supported applications are moving beyond pilots to systemic deployment in public services. For global partners, this provides a practical reference on how AI can be integrated into large governance systems while maintaining affordability, accountability and public trust.
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Trust and safety are central themes at the India AI Impact Summit. How is India approaching AI governance in this context?
India’s approach to AI governance is guided by the principle that trust is foundational to adoption. IndiaAI operates within a broader national framework that balances innovation with accountability through principle- based and risk-aware governance. Rather than imposing premature or overly prescriptive regulation, India is strengthening institutions, sectoral oversight and technical evaluation mechanisms. This approach preserves innovation while ensuring AI systems remain transparent, explainable and aligned with democratic values, an approach that many countries represented at the Summit are also exploring.
What role does India seek to play globally through platforms such as the India AI Impact Summit?
Through the India AI Impact Summit, India seeks to position itself as a bridge-builder in global AI governance. The Summit is designed to elevate voices from developing and emerging economies and to promote cooperation on issues of access, standards, safety and capacity-building.
India’s experience of deploying digital public infrastructure and AI responsibly at a population scale offers lessons that are relevant far beyond its borders. By sharing these experiences and engaging constructively in multilateral dialogue, India aims to contribute to a more inclusive, trusted and development-oriented global AI ecosystem.
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