Indian MPs are also curious about AI
A Report of Questions Raised and Government Responses on AI in the 2024 Winter Session of Parliament
The conversation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India has largely revolved around the activities and decisions of the executive. Much has also been happening in Parliament that hasn’t received much attention. Given this backdrop, we at the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) tracked the proceedings of the 2024 Winter Session of the Parliament of India. It was held between November 25 and December 20, 2024.
The motivation behind this project is to track and understand AI-related issues raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the government’s response. An MP in India represents about 25 lakh citizens. Their interventions are key to understanding national priorities and concerns. Further, this project seeks to inform public debate on AI in India by reporting AI-related developments in Parliament.
In Parliament, one way MPs hold the government accountable and seek its stance on policy issues is by asking questions to the concerned Ministry. In our study, we observed that MPs asked several questions on AI to different Ministries. These questions touched upon key topics such as regulating harms posed by AI (such as deepfakes, and privacy issues), impact on labor markets, skilling, use of AI in different sectors, and AI safety institute. We encountered about 80-100 AI-related questions in the 2024 Winter Session (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha). Our methodology is provided at the end of this essay.
In our reading of these questions, several key themes emerge. We discuss them below -
Policy direction on AI governance and harm prevention
The regulation of AI to mitigate harm has been a key concern for all countries. The EU passed the AI Act, while the US released an Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI. The goal being largely the same, countries have taken different approaches. Given how conversations on AI regulation have also begun in India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was asked several questions about its plans to regulate AI and related challenges. We discuss this below -
Regulation of AI: The MeitY informed Parliament that the government has formed an Advisory Group on AI, chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the PM, comprising stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. Its objective is to develop a Responsible AI framework to ensure the safe and trusted development and deployment of AI. Further, it informed that NASSCOM, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, is developing voluntary guidelines to promote the responsible development and deployment of AI.
Report on AI Governance in India
Under the PSA’s Advisory Group, a Subcommittee on ‘AI Governance and Guidelines Development’ was constituted to provide actionable recommendations for AI governance in India. The Committee released its draft Report for consultation on 7th January 2025.
The Committee noted that several existing laws and regulations can be applied to AI systems. For instance, the Committee noted how the Information Technology Act, 2000 has provisions to deal with malicious synthetic media. Further, it noted how different regulators such as RBI, SEBI, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority have issued guidelines on cyber security that may be applied when AI is used to compromise cyber security. The Committee observed that there is a need to strengthen capacity across departments and regulators ensuring that they effectively apply relevant laws to AI systems.
The Committee also made some recommendations which include: (i) formation of an Inter-Ministerial AI Coordination Committee/ Governance Group (an ongoing committee) to bring together all relevant authorities to work on AI governance, (ii) establishment of a Technical Secretariat to serve as a technical advisory body and coordination focal point for the Committee/ Group, (iii) development of an AI incident database for India, and (iv) setting up a Sub-Group to work with MeitY to give recommendations for the proposed Digital India Act.
Tackling synthetic media and misinformation: The MeitY emphasized that it is committed to ensuring that the internet in India is free from any unlawful content including fake news. It then listed down details regarding existing laws that seek to regulate harmful online content. Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, an intermediary (includes social media platforms) is not liable for third-party information it holds or transmits. However, to claim this exemption, it must fulfill due diligence requirements under the Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules). These requirements include specifying in service agreements the categories of content that users are not allowed to upload. It also includes taking expeditious action towards the removal of unlawful content. This includes information that knowingly and intentionally communicates any misinformation or information that is patently false and untrue or misleading. Further, it comprises information that impersonates another person. Failure to comply would make the intermediary liable for consequential action or prosecution as provided under any extant law.
Privacy concerns: Responding to questions on privacy and data security amidst the growth of AI, MeitY noted that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, was passed by Parliament in August 2023. It puts certain obligations on data fiduciaries (entity determining the purpose and means of processing) to safeguard digital personal data and holds them accountable for its protection. The Act also provides certain rights to data principals (individuals whose data is being processed), including the right to: (i) obtain information about data processing, (ii) request correction or erasure of personal data, and (iii) seek grievance redressal. Note that the Draft Rules for the Act were released for public consultation on 3rd January 2025.
Further, MeitY informed that the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) regularly issues alerts on cyber threats, including AI-driven attacks, and countermeasures to protect systems and data. In May 2023, it published an advisory on mitigating adversarial threats from AI-based applications.
MeitY was also asked a question about AI-related data breaches or misuse of personal information. The response was that “with regard to AI-related data breaches or misuse of personal information, as per National Crime Record Bureau, there is no information available with them”.
Progress under the IndiaAI Mission
In March 2024, the central government had approved Rs 10,372 crore for the IndiaAI Mission. The Mission seeks to promote the development of AI in India by providing the required infrastructure, funding, and skilling. The Mission is being implemented by IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India. The core objectives of the Mission have been divided into seven 7 pillars -
While answering questions relating to the progress made under this Mission, MeitY gave some key updates which include -
Breakup of the funds allocated to the Mission: The breakup of the Rs 10,372 crore (allocated to the Mission for 5 years) is provided below-
Setting up data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities: The FutureSkills pillar under the Mission seeks to increase the number of graduates, postgraduates, and PhDs specializing in AI. Additionally, it seeks to establish data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India to provide foundational courses in data and AI. MeitY informed Parliament that all 36 states and UTs have been asked to nominate Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)/polytechnics in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities for establishing data labs. IndiaAI, in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) also plans to set up 27 Data Labs in these cities (See Table 2).
Responsible AI Projects: The Safe & Trusted AI pillar under the Mission focuses on implementing Responsible AI initiatives, including developing indigenous tools, self-assessment checklists, and governance frameworks. Eight projects have been selected to establish robust guardrails for the responsible development and use of AI technologies (See Table 3). Note that these projects were selected against the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated under the Safe and Trusted AI pillar of the Mission. Over 2,000 proposals from academic institutions, start-ups, research organizations, and civil society were evaluated by a multi-stakeholder committee, leading to the selection of eight projects.
India thinking of setting up an AI Safety Institute
In response to the rapid advancements in AI, countries like the U.S., U.K., Japan, Canada, and Singapore have established AI Safety Institutes (AISIs). These institutes focus on assessing AI systems' capabilities and risks, conducting safety research, sharing findings, and fostering stakeholder collaboration.
MeitY was questioned whether India envisions the AISI as an advisory body rather than a regulatory one and whether the government has finalized a process for selecting its members. In response, MeitY stated that the government is cognizant of the need to create guardrails to ensure that AI is safe and trusted. Accordingly, it convened a consultation session with representatives from industry, academia, civil society organizations, and international bodies to discuss the framework, scope, and operational model of the AISI. The consultation aimed to ensure that the institute would serve as a key pillar in advancing AI governance while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships.
India leveraging AI for several use cases
Several Ministries were asked questions on how they are using or plan to use AI in their respective sectors. Key highlights from the responses include:
Judiciary: The Ministry of Law & Justice informed Parliament that the Supreme Court of India, under the e-Courts Project Phase III is integrating AI in various court-related activities. This includes translation, facilitating communication with litigants through chatbots, prediction, and forecasting. AI has also been deployed for transcribing oral arguments, particularly in Constitution Bench matters since February 2023. A Committee headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court has been constituted to monitor the translation of important Supreme Court and High Court judgments into vernacular languages. As of December 6th, 2024, 17 High Courts have started placing e-High Court Reports (e-HCR)/e-Indian Law Reports (e-ILR). These are digital legal platforms that provide online access to judgments in the vernacular languages. Further, the AI Committees of the High Courts have been informed to request the respective state governments to translate all central and state legislation, rules, regulations, etc. into regional language.
In response to a question on funds sanctioned for these translation projects, the Ministry mentioned that no separate fund has been sanctioned to the Supreme Court. Remuneration of Rs. 100 per page (as per the original English Supreme Court judgment) is given by the Supreme Court to the retired judicial officers/translators/advocates for vetting of AI-translated Supreme Court judgments.
The Ministry was also asked about how it plans to deal with privacy issues in relation to AI usage. In response, it mentioned that a Sub-Committee of six High Court judges, supported by technical experts, has been formed by the Supreme Court's eCommittee Chairperson to enhance data security and privacy under the eCourts project.
Agriculture: The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare mentioned some of the key initiatives in the agricultural sector where AI is being used. These include:
Kisan e-Mitra: An AI chatbot assisting farmers with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi1 queries, supporting multiple languages, and expanding to other government programs.
National Pest Surveillance System: An AI-driven system using Machine Learning to detect crop issues caused by climate change, enabling timely interventions for healthier yields.
Weather forecasting: The Ministry of Earth Sciences informed Parliament that its AI and ML technologies are used in weather, climate, and ocean forecasting systems. A virtual center has been established at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, specializing in the use of AI and ML techniques to advance Earth Sciences.
The Ministry of Science & Technology also mentioned that the Department of Science & Technology has established 25 Technology Innovation Hubs advancing AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. Under this initiative, IIT Ropar is working to improve air quality forecasting & IIT-Banaras Hindu University has developed IoT-ML rainfall prediction systems for farmers.
Disseminating information about government policies: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting mentioned that it plans to set up an AI-powered dashboard for the dissemination of information about government policies and programs. This will be useful in creating awareness about such policies and programs in all states in local languages. Note that the Ministry had released an expression of interest inviting agencies to develop such a dashboard.
Railways: The Ministry of Railways was asked whether the Indian Railways is leveraging technologies like AI, IoT, and automation, to enhance operational efficiency and safety of rail freight. The Ministry mentioned some use cases where such technologies are being used. These include the freight maintenance management system, real-time train information system, and control chart automation. These systems, integrated with IoT devices, have significantly improved freight operations and reduced wagon turnaround times.
Indian Railways is also installing AI-enabled systems to detect elephants and wildlife near tracks in certain identified corridors. The system provides early warnings, enabling timely alerts to loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms.
Centres of Excellence in AI
The Ministry of Education updated Parliament on setting up Centres of Excellence (CoE) in AI. The announcement of setting up these Centres was first made in the 2023-24 Union Budget speech.
The Ministry noted that the central government has approved the establishment of three CoEs in AI focused on health, sustainable cities, and agriculture, with a financial outlay of Rs 990 crore for 2023-24 to 2027-28. These CoEs are designed to foster interdisciplinary research, develop applications, and create scalable solutions in these fields.
Proposals were invited from the top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework ranked higher education institutions, resulting in 11 consortiums shortlisted for proof of concept submissions. Following evaluations by an Apex Committee comprising experts and ministry representatives, CoEs led by AIIMS Delhi-IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Ropar were selected. Each CoE is a consortium involving academic, research institutes, and industry partners, including IIT Madras, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IISc Bangalore, NITs, and more.
AI Education and Skilling
Several MPs inquired about the government's plans to introduce AI-related courses and other initiatives for teaching and upskilling. Below, we discuss some of the key responses to these questions.
AI in schools: The Ministry of Education noted that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 has recommended concerted curricular and pedagogical initiatives including the introduction of contemporary subjects like AI. In the context of CBSE schools, the Ministry mentioned that AI is offered as a 15-hour module in class VIII and as a skill subject in classes IX to XII. In the 2024-25 academic session, around 7,90,999 students from about 4,538 schools chose AI as a subject at the secondary level (classes IX & X). About 50,343 students from around 944 schools have opted for AI at the senior secondary level (classes XI & XII).
There was also a question for the Ministry regarding its plans to make AI courses mandatory for other boards. In response, it was stated that schools, other than those within the jurisdiction / funded by the Central Government, are under the jurisdiction of state governments. Therefore, the state boards have to take a call on this.
AI Skilling: Responding to a question on the impact of AI on jobs, the Ministry of Labour & Employment noted that AI may automate some routine jobs but will also result in job creation. It informed Parliament that the MeitY, in collaboration with NASSCOM, has launched the "FutureSkills PRIME" program. This initiative is designed to re-skill and up-skill individuals in emerging technologies such as AI, augmented and virtual reality, big data analytics, and blockchain. FutureSkills PRIME provides a digital platform for online training in these advanced digital skills. The program is also integrating industry-oriented skilling into the curriculum by collaborating with industry partners like Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, and Wipro.
MeitY, in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education and Meta, has also launched the "YuvAi Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building.” It seeks to bridge the AI talent gap by empowering students and young developers aged 18-30 to utilize open-source large language models to tackle real-world challenges.
Conclusion
AI is a transformative technology that offers immense potential to revolutionize core aspects of our lives. However, this potential also poses challenges to society. The questions asked by MPs recognize this dual nature of AI. Queries by MPs on how the government is leveraging (or plans to) AI in different fields reflect their promise that AI can be used to solve societal problems. At the same time, MPs are concerned about AI harm. These harms are not limited to issues like deepfakes and privacy, they include long-term implications of AI on society including its impact on the labor market and the education system. Such inputs will be key in helping India formulate a holistic understanding of AI safety that takes into account both the short-term and long-term implications of AI on society. Given how AI has become a key policy issue, we can expect more such questions and even debates in Parliament on AI. These interventions will be key in helping the government formulate policies and programs on AI that address national concerns.
Methodology
To search for AI-related questions in Parliament, we referred to the official websites of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Our methodology involved two parts :
Question Search Option: Utilizing the built-in search feature on both websites.
Questions List: Reviewing the lists of questions listed in each house (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
We used specific keywords for the search, including "Artificial Intelligence," "Machine Learning," and "IndiaAI Mission," to identify relevant questions. Using this methodology, we came up with about 100 AI-related questions from both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha.
Authors
Anand R., Nidan Basheer, Omir Kumar
Omir (omir@cerai.in) is a Policy Analyst at CeRAI. Anand and Nidan are Research Interns at CeRAI studying at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras.
The authors would like to thank Professor Sudarsan Padmanabhan, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras for his assistance and guidance.
It is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year is transferred in three equal installments, into the bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.