India Plans AI Oversight Board, Mandatory Training for Bureaucrats

The Indian government is taking steps to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in governance by introducing an oversight board and mandatory AI training for bureaucrats. Under the AI Competency Framework for Public Officials, part of the broader IndiaAI Mission, the government has proposed forming an AI Governance Board to monitor, approve, and regulate AI applications in public services.

The board will ensure that AI systems comply with ethical and legal standards while addressing security concerns. It will also review AI initiatives throughout their lifecycle to ensure responsible implementation. The framework emphasizes that government officers must understand AI’s risks, biases, and societal impact before deploying AI solutions.

This move follows a past controversy when the government initially required AI platforms to seek approval before launching products in India. The advisory was later withdrawn after criticism from industry leaders, who argued it could stifle innovation.

The framework also highlights concerns over bias in AI models, particularly the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in training data. To address this, the policy mandates regular audits of AI systems and encourages independent assessments for ethical compliance.

A three-tier training structure has been proposed: policymakers will focus on AI governance, mid-level officials will oversee AI-driven programs, and implementation teams will handle daily AI operations. The initiative aims to balance AI adoption with accountability, transparency, and fairness.

Source: Moneycontrol