The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reiterated its commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force for social good, emphasizing inclusivity, scalability, and responsible innovation. Speaking at the curtain raiser event for the Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan underlined that India’s AI journey must focus on empowering citizens and solving real-world challenges.
“If India is to become a developed nation, we must ride the wave of technology, and AI is perhaps the most crucial technology driving that transformation,” said Krishnan. “Our approach must be inclusive, ensuring people can access and benefit from AI in meaningful ways. We must view AI as a force for good.”
The curtain raiser, held on October 23, 2025, also featured Dr. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, Institute Chair Professor at IIT Bombay, and Ms. Kavita Bhatia, Group Coordinator, AI & Emerging Tech Division, MeitY.
Driving India’s AI Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
MeitY’s upcoming session on ‘Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact’ at ESTIC 2025—scheduled for November 4 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi—will spotlight India’s responsible AI roadmap under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The session aims to showcase how AI for All is being realized through scalable, resource-efficient solutions across health, education, agriculture, and governance.
According to Ms. Bhatia, “AI is a kinetic enabler that helps us leapfrog traditional barriers and catalyze socio-economic transformation. Our approach reflects the Prime Minister’s philosophy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayaas—ensuring AI serves everyone.”
Collaboration Between Government, Academia, and Industry
Speakers at ESTIC 2025 will include Dr. Sridhar Vembu (Zoho), Dr. Sriram Raghavan (IBM Research), Debjani Ghosh (NITI Aayog), Geetha Manjunath (Niramai), Amit Sheth (University of South Carolina), and Harrick Vin (TCS), among others. The discussions will focus on advancing India-centric, multilingual, and context-aware AI—particularly through initiatives like Bhashini, BharatGen, and the National Sovereign AI Ecosystem.
IIT Bombay’s Dr. Ramakrishnan highlighted India’s advantage in leveraging its digital public infrastructure—Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker—to build scalable, ethical AI models. “These platforms form the backbone of India’s AI-led innovation,” he said.
Building Toward the India–AI Impact Summit 2026
The ESTIC 2025 session will also serve as a preview to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, to be hosted by MeitY in February 2026 in New Delhi. The summit will explore AI’s role in inclusive growth, sustainability, and innovation, structured around three core sutras: People, Planet, and Progress.
Through these initiatives, MeitY aims to position India as a global leader in responsible AI adoption, ensuring that technology not only advances economic growth but also strengthens human development and societal equity.
