A high-level panel on Artificial Intelligence was convened by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, reflecting India’s commitment to harnessing AI as a transformative force for development. Key government, academic, and industry leaders discussed strategies for building a world-class, inclusive, and ethically governed AI ecosystem aligned with the nation’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
AI as a Mission-Critical Catalyst for Progress
Opening the session, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, emphasized that AI’s greatest value lies in its impact on society and its ability to improve quality of life. He asserted that AI is a seamless, cross-cutting enabler, now sitting at the heart of India’s roadmap towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. The panel saw a strong consensus around AI’s potential to accelerate innovation and bridge gaps in education, healthcare, industry, and public welfare.
IndiaAI Mission – Building Blocks of a Global-Standard AI Ecosystem
Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, highlighted the IndiaAI Mission’s integrated “seven-pillar” approach: affordable computing, accessible and quality datasets, foundation models, robust support for startups, and an overarching safe, trustworthy governance framework. Singh stressed that India’s demographic dividend, matched with these strategic measures, positions the country to develop globally competitive—yet resource-conscious—AI solutions that address both national needs and international standards.
DeepTech, Indigenous Innovation, and Empowering Social Impact
Panelists including Dr. Sridhar Vembu (Zoho), Dr. Geeta Manjunath (Niramai), Dr. Sriram Raghavan (IBM Research), and Dr. Amit Sheth (AI Institute, University of South Carolina) shared sectoral success stories from healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. They underscored the need for indigenous R&D, affordable diagnostics, India-focused language and multimodal AI platforms, and leveraging AI for good, especially for social equity and last-mile healthcare.
Panel Discussion: Evolving Governance and Global Partnerships
Moderated by Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati (DeepTech for Bharat), the discussion featured leaders from Tata Consultancy Services, IIT Madras, BrainSightAI, NITI Aayog, and Amrita University. Together, they explored expanding digital public infrastructure, developing India-specific large language models, advancing ethical frameworks, and fostering international collaboration—all while keeping the focus on social inclusion and developmental priorities.
Conclusion: ESTIC 2025
The ESTIC 2025 panel on AI signaled a maturing ecosystem driven by mission-mode reforms, deepening infrastructure, and India’s unique approach to responsible, impactful AI. India is on track to build an AI landscape that not only delivers for its citizens but also sets global benchmarks in ethics, inclusivity, and innovation.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
