India Takes Initial Steps Towards AI-Driven Governance 

The Indian government is steadily embracing artificial intelligence (AI) across various  ministries to enhance governance, improve service delivery, and boost operational  efficiency. Although the integration of AI is still in its nascent stages, tools powered by AI  are already being trialed and implemented in diverse sectors such as weather  forecasting, healthcare, railways, public enterprises, and the judiciary. 

Officials report that multiple ministries are employing AI for routine yet labor-intensive  tasks, including meeting transcription, document translation, and the preparation of  handover notes. Additionally, AI is being harnessed for more critical functions, such as  climate forecasting, disease screening, and optimising processes within government run enterprises. 

AI in Weather, Agriculture, and Public Services 

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth  Sciences, Jitendra Singh, highlighted that AI tools are being utilised for experimental  weather and climate forecasting. Techniques like the Advanced Dvorak Technique  (AiDT) are aiding in predicting cyclone intensity, while a combination of AI and dynamic  models is being used to deliver more precise weather forecasts. 

Moreover, the government is in the process of developing MausamGPT—an AI-driven  chatbot intended to serve as a climate advisory tool for farmers and other stakeholders.  This initiative aims to provide timely and simplified weather and climate information to  assist in agricultural decision-making.

Indian Railways has also embraced AI to enhance operational efficiency. AI-enabled  sensor cameras are deployed to identify unclean linen and monitor hygiene standards  in kitchens. Additionally, the railways have instructed officials to utilise AI tools for preparing handover notes, clarifying that AI is intended solely for process support rather  than decision-making. 

Public Sector, Health, and Justice Witness Growing AI Adoption 

Several central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Steel, including  SAIL, NMDC, and MOIL, have introduced AI-driven digital tools aimed at process  optimisation, cost reduction, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection. 

In the healthcare sector, AI is playing a pivotal role in diagnosis and telemedicine. The  health ministry has rolled out AI solutions for diabetic retinopathy detection and  abnormal chest X-ray classification across multiple states, aiding in the screening of  thousands of patients. Additionally, AI has been integrated into the e-Sanjeevani  telemedicine platform through a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), enhancing  consultation quality and standardising patient data across health centres. 

The judiciary is also tapping into AI technologies. AI-based translation tools, optical  character recognition (OCR), and natural language processing are being employed to  translate Supreme Court and high court judgments into regional languages. The  Supreme Court frequently utilises AI Panini, developed by the National Informatics  Centre (NIC), to translate legal texts into all 22 official Indian languages. 

Governance Framework and Future Directions 

To establish a structured approach to AI adoption, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has  recently unveiled the India AI Governance Guidelines. An AI governance group, led by  the Principal Scientific Adviser, has been formed, including participation from  regulators such as RBI, SEBI, CCI, and institutions like NITI Aayog. This group aims to  develop national standards, audit mechanisms, and an AI incident database. 

While experts commend the progress made, they caution that AI adoption remains  fragmented and primarily pilot-driven. They emphasise the necessity for a “whole-of government” approach to transition AI from experimental phases to widespread  implementation, particularly in priority sectors like health, agriculture, justice, and skill  development. 

As the demand for AI solutions rises, NIC is experiencing an influx of requests from  ministries, indicating that India’s journey towards AI-enabled governance has  commenced—though cautiously and incrementally.