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India today stands at a decisive moment in its technological journey. Artificial Intelligence (AI), the most consequential innovation of our times, is transforming economies, militaries, and governance systems worldwide. India has taken a techno-legal approach to this challenge, balancing innovation with regulation. Initiatives such as IndiaAI and AI for All are testimony to this vision—aimed at creating public awareness, building AI-skilled human capital, and democratizing access to tools and infrastructure.The results are already visible. The IndiaAI Mission, for example, is creating foundational AI models, assembling datasets through AIKosha, and ensuring access to 34,000 GPUs for students, researchers, startups, and small firms. According to a BCG survey, AI adoption among Indian enterprises stands at 30%, higher than the global average of 26%. These statistics affirm the momentum India has built in the private sector.But beneath this success lies a gap: the government sector has not yet fully embraced AI. For India’s AI journey to be sustainable, sovereign, and future-ready, the public sector must move beyond piecemeal adoption and systematically integrate AI across governance, national security, and welfare delivery.Learning from Early Adopters: Estonia’s Digital Leap
History reminds us that early adopters of disruptive technologies gain decisive advantages. Estonia is a striking example. Emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country faced the challenge of nation-building from scratch. In 1992, when offered Finland’s analogue communication systems, Estonia declined and instead built its own digital infrastructure. By the late 1990s, it pioneered e-governance, embedding digital technologies into the state’s DNA.That bold decision shaped Estonia’s trajectory. Today it is a high-income economy with one of the highest Human Development Indices, and it is once again at the forefront of AI-enabled governance. For India, Estonia’s story underscores the lesson that bold adoption of disruptive technologies in governance can propel nations to the front ranks of development.AI in the Public Sector: An Inevitable Future
AI is not merely a productivity tool; it is reshaping national power and strategic autonomy. Consider the AI-powered X-Guard system that deceives incoming missiles and protects aircraft. Such innovations illustrate how AI is redefining modern warfare. But beyond defence, AI’s potential stretches across cybersecurity, space research, earth sciences, agriculture, natural resource mapping, and healthcare.In governance, AI can revolutionize service delivery. By detecting hidden inefficiencies in bureaucratic processes, it can help identify bottlenecks, reduce leakages, and suggest policy priorities. The promise is immense: AI could become the invisible engine that makes welfare delivery faster, smarter, and more transparent.Why AI Sovereignty is Non-Negotiable
For all its promise, AI also carries risks that make sovereignty essential for India.
