India deploys AI to audit 500 government apps for cyber vulnerabilities

India has begun using artificial intelligence to scan roughly 500 government applications and IT systems for cybersecurity weaknesses. The effort, led by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT‑In), employs a sandbox where multiple open‑source and Indian‑developed AI models probe applications, assess resilience and spot flaws that traditional audits might miss. Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the stress‑testing exercise is part of a broader push to embed AI in public administration and bolster the security of the nation’s expanding digital infrastructure.

At the same time, India’s law‑enforcement and internal‑security agencies are expanding AI use beyond pilot projects. AI tools now support cyber‑crime response, financial‑fraud detection, extensive surveillance and automated content‑censorship systems such as Surakshini. Parliamentary committees have noted a shift toward evidence‑based, algorithm‑driven policing, mirroring global trends in predictive policing and facial‑recognition technologies. The growing reliance on AI raises questions about legal and ethical limits as the technology moves from assistance to authoritative decision‑making in public safety.