NOV 05: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, organized a high-level Panel Discussion on Artificial Intelligence at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, bringing together leaders from government, industry, and academia to deliberate on India’s AI roadmap for innovation, inclusion, and ethical progress.
Chaired by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, the discussion underscored the transformative role of AI in shaping India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. “The real test of technology lies in its societal impact — how it improves quality of life and enables opportunity. Artificial Intelligence, as a horizontal and cross-cutting technology, offers India a unique chance to drive inclusive growth and national transformation,” he said.
Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, and CEO, IndiaAI Mission, outlined the integrated approach of the IndiaAI Mission in creating a world-class AI ecosystem. “Through its seven-pillar strategy — affordable computing, high-quality datasets, foundation models, startup enablement, and trustworthy governance — the Mission is filling critical gaps to make AI accessible, safe, and globally competitive,” he explained. He added that India’s strength lies in its human capital, complemented by initiatives to expand computing power and digital infrastructure.
Echoing the call for indigenous innovation, Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corporation, highlighted India’s potential to build unique AI pathways despite resource constraints. “Scarcity drives creativity — constraints can inspire breakthrough science and lead to new ways of thinking. India must build AI on its own terms, grounded in local strengths,” he said.
The session also featured insights from Dr. Geeta Manjunath, Founder and CEO, Niramai Health Analytix, who demonstrated how AI is revolutionizing early breast cancer detection, making healthcare more affordable and equitable. Dr. Sriram Raghavan, Vice President, IBM Research, emphasized the power of open innovation ecosystems, while Dr. Amit Sheth, AI Institute, University of South Carolina, discussed the shift from generic AI to domain-specific systems enhancing productivity in critical sectors.
The panel on “Responsible AI for Innovation and Inclusion”, moderated by Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Co-founder, DeepTech for Bharat Foundation, included leading experts such as Dr. Harrick Mayank Vin (TCS), Prof. Balaraman Ravindran (IIT Madras), Dr. Rimjhim Agrawal (BrainSightAI), Smt. Debjani Ghosh (NITI Aayog), and Prof. P. Venkat Rangan (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham).
Panelists explored India’s AI priorities — from developing indigenous large language models and ethical governance mechanisms to building global partnerships and digital infrastructure that promote inclusion and trust.
The session concluded with a collective commitment to build an AI ecosystem rooted in responsibility, resilience, and human-centric innovation, aligning technological progress with India’s developmental vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 and setting the stage for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
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