By – Densil Vincent
In 2022, India made headlines with the deployment of an AI-powered weather prediction system that saved thousands of farmers from a devastating drought. In a remote village in Maharashtra, an AI tool forecasted low rainfall with remarkable accuracy, enabling farmers to adjust their crop strategies. This not only minimized crop loss but also exemplified India’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology for societal good. It was yet another powerful reminder that artificial intelligence, when developed ethically and inclusively, holds transformative potential for India’s diverse population.
That India is regularly taking giant steps in the world of artificial intelligence is undeniable. Thanks to the government’s emphasis on AI as a key growth engine and perhaps, because of it, AI, according to a report in a leading newspaper, is expected to add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.
What makes India’s AI strategy unique is its commitment to ethical AI development. Determined not to allow rapid advancements to come at the expense of privacy and equality, India is ensuring that ethical considerations are well and firmly encoded into the motherboard of its AI policies.
The National AI Strategy, launched in 2018 by NITI Aayog, explicitly prioritizes ethical development. The framework emphasizes transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI applications. In collaboration with academia and industry leaders, AI for All is a campaign designed to raise awareness about AI’s societal implications, ensuring people understand how these technologies impact daily life, while also empowering users to leverage AI responsibly.
Inclusivity at the Core
One of India’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to design AI solutions that cater to diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. With over 1.4 billion people speaking more than 22 languages, inclusivity becomes not just a goal but a necessity. The Bhashini initiative, for instance, aims to use AI to develop speech and language technologies for regional languages, ensuring that AI is accessible to rural populations, small-scale industries, and marginalized communities.
India’s AI-driven platforms for healthcare, such as Aarogya Setu and e-Sanjeevani, have extended essential services to underserved populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these platforms provided real-time health monitoring and telemedicine services, bridging the healthcare gap in rural areas.
Yet another shining example of India’s commitment to responsible AI growth is the AI for Healthcare initiative, led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The program integrates AI into the public healthcare system to improve diagnostic accuracy and access to treatments for diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and cancer. Through the use of AI-powered screening tools, health workers in rural areas can detect early signs of TB, which is often misdiagnosed due to limited healthcare infrastructure.
India’s approach to AI is not just about technological prowess— it’s about creating a robust ecosystem where AI can flourish responsibly. The government’s Responsible AI for Youth program, which trains young minds in ethical AI development, reflects the country’s forward-thinking vision. In partnership with the United Nations, India has also developed guidelines for AI in governance, ensuring that public sector AI tools are transparent, non-discriminatory, and unbiased.
One of the standout projects is the AI for Agriculture initiative, where AI tools help farmers increase yields, reduce waste, and manage resources efficiently. By combining satellite imagery with AI-driven data analytics, the initiative has improved crop forecasting accuracy, benefiting millions of small and marginal farmers across the country.
India is not just adopting AI— it is redefining it to serve the broader goals of humanity.
