India's AI Strategy Targets Growth and Global Competition

India is working to strengthen its position in the global artificial‑intelligence race. Government initiatives such as the National AI Strategy, investments in data centres, cloud infrastructure and AI‑focused curricula aim to address structural challenges, including limited data access and talent shortages. At the same time, the country's large, digitally‑savvy population and a fast‑growing startup ecosystem are being leveraged to develop AI applications in health, agriculture and fintech.

Rubrik’s AI executive Dev Rishi argues that India can become a leader in AI without building its own large foundation models. He says the next phase of AI will shift from generative tools to “adjunct AI” that performs tasks and takes actions inside organisations, creating ROI. Rishi highlights that governance, security and compliance are the main blockers to enterprise AI adoption, and that AI itself will be needed to secure and manage AI agents. He points to India’s strong tech talent and education system as assets for building AI‑driven business tools and public‑sector automation.

Both perspectives underscore that while India faces infrastructure and talent gaps, strategic policy reforms, industry partnerships and a focus on AI governance could enable the country to play a significant role in the evolving AI landscape.