India is not just a frontrunner in Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption but is also actively shaping global AI governance, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman stated on Saturday. Speaking at the 6th convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Kottayam, she emphasized India’s role in advancing ethical and responsible AI development while ensuring its large-scale implementation.
India’s Growing Influence in AI Governance
Sitharaman highlighted India’s leadership at the AI Action Summit in Paris, where the country was co-chairing discussions on global AI governance. She underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of AI as not just a national priority but a global responsibility, calling for its ethical and inclusive development.
“AI should not be misused or applied unethically. It is important for us to build an AI ecosystem that is ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy,” she said. She further pointed out that public concerns about AI’s misuse and ethical risks will only be addressed through responsible policy frameworks and transparent governance.
India: The ‘Use Case Capital of AI’
Referring to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s remark that India is the “use case capital of the world for AI,” Sitharaman emphasized that the country is not just conducting research in AI but implementing it at scale. She noted India’s leadership in AI-powered applications, citing that the country recorded 3 billion AI-related app downloads in 2024—twice the number in the US (1.5 billion) and more than China (1.3 billion).
India’s AI ecosystem is being driven by government policies, stakeholder collaboration, and widespread digital adoption, making it a hub for AI-driven innovation and real-world applications across industries.
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Rising Innovation and Global Rankings
Sitharaman also highlighted India’s significant rise in global innovation and intellectual property rankings. The country has:
- Improved to 39th place in the Global Innovation Index (2024), up from 81st in 2015.
- Recorded a sharp increase in its patent-to-GDP ratio, growing from 144 in 2013 to 381 in 2023.
- Secured the 7th position in intangible asset intensity, surpassing the growth rates of several high-income economies.
- Ranked 6th globally in intellectual property filings, as per the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2023.
- Improved its Network Readiness Index ranking from 79th in 2019 to 49th in 2024, reflecting India’s shift toward digital self-reliance and technological leadership.
AI and India’s Economic Future
The Finance Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting AI adoption through policy innovation and infrastructure investment. She emphasized that India’s AI-driven economic transformation is closely tied to its growing intellectual property strength, research capabilities, and global influence in technology policy.
With AI increasingly integrated into agriculture, healthcare, finance, and governance, India is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven innovation while ensuring a responsible and ethical framework for its implementation.
