India aims not just to follow but to lead the world in responsible AI adoption globally
New Delhi
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving quickly and cannot be treated as a static technology. She stressed that regulation must keep pace to ensure AI is applied responsibly without ignoring ethics.
Speaking at the release of NITI Aayog’s report “AI for Viksit Bharat: The Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth”, Sitharaman said, “If the technology is on a sprint, then regulation also has to be on a sprint.” She underlined the government’s efforts to hold regular discussions with Nasscom and other stakeholders to frame balanced policies.
The minister noted that India’s goal is not only to keep up with global developments but also to lead in shaping responsible AI adoption. She explained that regulation must strike the right balance—encouraging innovation while preventing misuse. “We do not want regulation that wipes out technology itself. We want regulation for responsible application,” she said.
Sitharaman highlighted initiatives from the Union Budget, including AI centres for education, healthcare, agriculture, and urban development. These efforts aim to use AI for building smarter cities and improving living standards. The Finance Ministry is also working with the Reserve Bank of India, which is developing a sandbox for testing AI-based applications.
At the same time, she cautioned about challenges, especially AI’s possible impact on jobs and society. She urged careful management so India’s demographic dividend remains an advantage. Reiterating her point, the Finance Minister said regulation must run “equally fast” with technology to ensure AI contributes positively to India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat.