Indian Economy News

India innovates to empower - using AI to save lives and secure citizens: Union Minister of State for Communications Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar

Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, emphasised that India’s innovations are designed to transform lives, not technology for its own sake, while addressing the International Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. He highlighted how digital platforms such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have made seamless payments universal, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has expanded e-commerce opportunities for small sellers, and AI-driven alert systems saved over 5,00,000 lives during the 2024 Kerala floods. Citing the Department of Telecommunications’ AI-driven Fraud Risk Indicator, which blocked 4.8 million scams and prevented losses of Rs. 140 crore (US$ 15.77 million), he noted that these innovations illustrate India’s focus on leveraging AI to empower and protect citizens.
While recognising AI’s potential, he called for a collective, ethical approach to AI, proposing a five-point framework: combat bias through fairness audits and diverse datasets; protect jobs via reskilling initiatives such as IndiaAI FutureSkills; safeguard privacy with strong data protection laws; ensure transparency in sectors like healthcare, finance, and justice; and lead with ethics by aligning governance frameworks with global standards while reflecting Indian values. He urged governments, industries, and citizens to act decisively to ensure AI remains trustworthy, inclusive, and human-centric. The International AI Summit brought together global experts to deliberate on AI’s societal impact and responsible deployment.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.