The Indian government is increasing its oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) in governance through the introduction of the AI Competency Framework for Public Officials, part of the broader IndiaAI Mission. This framework aims to regulate the use of AI within government operations by recommending the establishment of an AI Governance Board. This board will be tasked with evaluating, approving, and monitoring AI applications to ensure compliance with ethical and regulatory standards, although its role in the private sector remains unclear.
AI Governance: Addressing Ethics, Bias, and Accountability
The framework emphasizes the need for government officials to acquire a critical understanding of AI’s ethical and security challenges. It stresses that AI projects must adhere to both domestic and international legal and ethical guidelines. The board is expected to provide guidance on AI applications, ensuring they are technically sound and socially responsible. Additionally, officials are required to assess AI risks, biases, and unintended consequences before implementation, marking a shift toward a risk-aware governance model.
A significant concern raised in the framework is AI bias, particularly in the underrepresentation or misrepresentation of marginalized communities in training data, which can lead to flawed decision-making. To address this, the framework mandates rigorous audits of AI models and encourages independent assessments to ensure ethical and performance standards are met.
Three-Level AI Competency Framework for Governance and Transparency
The competency framework is structured in three levels: Level 1 focuses on policymakers setting AI governance strategies, Level 2 addresses mid-level officials overseeing AI programs, and Level 3 targets implementation teams handling AI operations. Transparency is also a key requirement, with officials needing to document AI models thoroughly, including information about algorithm design and data sources. Human oversight is also mandated for AI systems affecting public services or fundamental rights.
As AI is projected to add $450–500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, the government is promoting AI adoption while also prioritizing safeguards to ensure accountability, transparency, and fairness.
