India needs a sovereign AI strategy that balances access to global frontier technologies with the development of domestic capabilities, as governments around the world shape their policy in national interests.
The call comes amid major policy shifts in the United States. Anthropic has restricted access to some of its most advanced AI models for foreign nationals on national security grounds. The U.S. government has introduced measures to gain early access to advanced AI systems while seeking greater involvement in the country’s leading AI companies.
The changing global landscape reflects that nations treat AI as a strategic asset. Europe is investing heavily in AI computing infrastructure and promoting local procurement, while countries like Argentina are positioning themselves as attractive destinations for AI investment through more flexible regulatory frameworks.
Experts argue that India, despite being a global IT services hub, does not yet possess its own frontier AI models and must adopt policies that help businesses to benefit from modern technologies without becoming strategically dependent on foreign providers.
Indian technology companies rely on the world’s best AI models to remain competitive, and managing geopolitical risks should become a government priority. Policymakers are urged to strengthen India’s links with global AI ecosystems while simultaneously investing in domestic research, innovation, and computing capabilities.
The article also highlights India’s relatively low investment in research and development, with national R&D spending at about 0.6 per cent of GDP, making it difficult to match the massive investments made by global AI leaders.
Experts recommend closer coordination across ministries, including external affairs, commerce, information technology, defence, telecom, and energy, to build a national AI strategy.
At the same time, India’s technology industry should focus aggressively on innovation, product quality, and global competitiveness. Experts argue that long-term success will depend on India capturing the economic and strategic benefits of artificial intelligence while steadily reducing external dependencies and not relying only on developing advanced AI systems.
