India signals push to build AI on digital public infrastructure and widen access to compute
A new white paper developed through consultations with government and industry stakeholders outlines a policy direction for building artificial intelligence on India’s digital public infrastructure, with a focus on democratising access to computing resources and supporting inclusive innovation.
India is considering a policy shift that would anchor the development of AI systems on its existing digital public infrastructure (DPI), according to a white paper prepared through consultations with domain experts and key stakeholders, including NITI Aayog. The document is intended to inform the next phase of India’s AI strategy, as the country seeks to scale AI adoption while addressing structural barriers to access and capacity.
The white paper frames DPI, such as digital identity, payments, and data exchange platforms, as foundational ‘rails’ on which AI applications can be built. By leveraging these shared public systems, policymakers argue that AI development can be made more interoperable, cost-effective, and aligned with public interest objectives, rather than being driven solely by large private platforms.
A central theme of the paper is the need to democratise access to compute infrastructure, which remains a major constraint for startups, researchers, and smaller firms. Limited availability of high-performance computing and dependence on a small number of global providers are identified as risks to innovation and strategic autonomy. The paper points toward public and hybrid approaches to compute provisioning as a way to lower entry barriers and broaden participation in AI development.
The document also reflects ongoing discussions within government about balancing innovation with governance. By situating AI development within DPI frameworks, the approach seeks to embed principles such as openness, interoperability, and inclusion into the technical foundations of future AI systems. While the white paper does not propose binding rules, it signals a policy direction that could shape future investments, regulatory choices, and institutional arrangements for AI in India.
