At the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit, S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighted the government’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI), and technology-led growth, emphasising that India’s focus remains on innovation rather than regulation.“We don’t need a dedicated legislation today, now, but I will not say that no legislation is required for all times,” he said adding that the government will monitor the developments in AI adoption and introduce new laws only if necessary.Existing laws already cover most concerns around AI misuse, and for now, he said, the emphasis is on encouraging innovation while ensuring that any potential harms are addressed responsibly.
The MeitY Secretary assured that industry consultations will remain central to the policy framework.Speaking on the India AI Mission, Krishnan noted that the government has doubled its outlay to ₹20,000 crore, but cautioned against comparing it directly with the massive AI-related spends by global economies such as the US.
“The expenditure under the India AI mission is intended to be a catalytic investment, not the only investment,” he said.Read Here | Asia’s AI supply chain offers big opportunity, says WhiteOak Capital’s Lim Wen LoongKrishnan noted that much of the $400–$500 billion AI investment quoted for the US represents private and global corporate spending, part of which is already flowing into India through data centers and AI infrastructure investments by American tech giants.Referring to Google’s recent $15 billion cloud investment in India, Krishnan confirmed that other global technology companies are also showing strong interest in investing. “There have been other announcements… other global technology companies have also been speaking about investments in India, and they are making investments,” he said.On the sensitive issue of AI-led job displacement, Krishnan said the government is closely tracking industry trends. According to him, job roles are evolving rather than disappearing, with firms investing in reskilling and redeployment.“The nature of jobs is changing. Companies are looking at more jobs in those who create applications of AI and those who deploy them,” he explained. He emphasised that skilling, upskilling, and reskilling are critical to ensuring the workforce remains relevant in the new digital environment.For full interview, watch accompanying video
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