Key Facts & Data Points

  • IndiaAI Compute Portal now hosts 58,000+ GPUs for national AI workloads.
  • Private sector commitments: Reliance Industries – USD 110 bn (7 years), Adani Group – USD 100 bn (renewable‑powered AI data centres by 2035).
  • Indigenous foundational models: Sarvam AI, BharatGen Param2 – multilingual, integrated with Digital Public Infrastructure.
  • Recent AI‑enabled incidents:
  • May 2025 – Pakistan’s "Iron Wall" cyber‑attack caused power‑grid failures across 23 Indian states.
  • 2024 General Elections – AI‑generated deepfakes amplified communal tensions.
  • Project proposals: Project Drona (AI‑drone swarms), Project Kavach (critical‑infrastructure cyber‑defence), Project Netra (real‑time battlefield surveillance).

Background & Context

  • Global AI rivalry (US‑China) has pushed nations to claim AI sovereignty – control over compute, data, algorithms and governance.
  • India launched the IndiaAI Mission and hosted the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to chart a sovereign AI roadmap.
  • Defence modernisation now hinges on C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) systems powered by AI for rapid decision‑making.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Strategic Advantage: AI enhances precision strikes, maritime domain awareness and counter‑drone capabilities, reducing collateral damage.
  • Security Risks:
  • Autonomous lethal weapons and AI‑drone swarms can erode conventional military superiority.
  • AI‑driven cyber‑attacks threaten power grids, banking systems and defence networks.
  • Deepfakes and disinformation undermine democratic processes and social cohesion.
  • Economic Sovereignty: Protection of IP in pharma, space and IT sectors from AI‑enabled espionage.
  • Indigenisation: Reducing dependence on foreign hardware (semiconductors, HPC) aligns with Make in India and national security imperatives.

Legal & Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 21 (Right to Life & Personal Liberty) – extends to protection against AI‑enabled surveillance and privacy breaches.
  • Information Technology Act, 2000 – provisions for cyber‑offences; needs amendment to address AI‑driven attacks.
  • National Security Act, 1980 – can be invoked for AI‑related threats to sovereignty.
  • Draft AI Regulation (2025) – proposes mandatory human‑in‑the‑loop for LAWS, data‑set certification, and AI‑safe design standards for critical infrastructure.

Steps Needed for National Security in the Age of AI Weaponisation

  • Create a Defence AI Agency (DAIA) to streamline AI integration across services.
  • National Secure Data Sets for defence‑critical training, with strict labeling and provenance checks.
  • Sovereign Semiconductor & HPC Ecosystem – incentivise domestic chip design and fabrication.
  • AI‑Safe Design Standards for power plants, grids, and critical infrastructure.
  • National Cognitive Security Centre – real‑time deepfake detection, bot‑net neutralisation, and mass digital‑literacy drives.
  • Comprehensive LAWS Guidelines – enforce human oversight, accountability and compliance with international humanitarian law.
  • Global Partnerships – leverage the India AI Impact Summit to negotiate equitable AI norms and technology transfers.

Related Constitutional / Policy Documents

  • National Security Strategy (2023) – emphasizes technology‑enabled warfare.
  • Digital India Programme – provides the backbone for Digital Public Infrastructure integration.
  • Make in India (2020‑2025) – aligns with indigenisation of AI hardware.

Drishti Mains Question: Examine the concept of AI sovereignty. Why is it becoming a central pillar of India's national security policy, and what challenges does India face in achieving it?