“INDIA’S ‘THIRD WAY’ FOR AI GOVERNANCE”

NEWS: AI Impact Summit happening in Delhi. Global leaders discussing AI governance

“Third Way” in AI Governance

• India’s “Third Way” = A middle path between: Over-regulation, no regulation, state control
• Designed for: Developing countries, global South nations, middle powers (like India, Brazil, Indonesia)

Global AI Governance Models

• European Union Model(Compliance-Heavy)
  • Example: AI ActàStrict regulations, risk-based classification
• United States Model: Market-driven innovation, private tech companies lead
• China Model: Strong government control, centralised data & AI systems
• India’s Third Way (Balanced Model): Flexible regulation, inclusive development focus, strategic autonomy, context-based governance

India’s AI Governance Guidelines (2025)

Includes

• Adoption of AI
• Diffusion (spread of AI across sectors)
• Diplomacy (global AI cooperation)
• Capacity building (skills, infrastructure)

Key Pillars of India’s AI Model

• Strategic AutonomyàReduce dependence on foreign AI systems
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)àCollaboration between government + startups + tech firms
• Localised Governance
• Research InfrastructureàSafety evaluation frameworks, collaborative research networks

India is well-positioned:

• Large digital population
• Strong IT sector
• Success in digital public infrastructure (DPI)
• Experience in scalable governance models (UPI, CoWIN)