New Delhi l
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes economies and societies, global experts are urging India to adopt region-specific, inclusive, and ethical AI policies to address emerging digital threats. Speaking exclusively, Eunsong Kim (Chief of Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO) emphasized that,
“India’s sheer diversity demands localised frameworks, not one-size-fits-all solutions.”
UNESCO, in partnership with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has just concluded Phase II of India’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)—a year-long consultative process designed to measure how prepared India is to govern AI responsibly.
The consultations were held across cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati, engaging stakeholders from academia, civil society, tech, and government. According to Kim, the aim was to gather ground-level insights from every corner of India to ensure AI policies are not just top-down, but rooted in real local needs.
What is AI RAM?
The AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) is UNESCO’s global framework to evaluate a country’s ability to develop, use, and govern AI responsibly. It examines five key areas:
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Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
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Education and Research Capacity
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AI Infrastructure and Economy
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Social and Cultural Inclusion
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Ethical and Participatory Governance
The upcoming India-specific report is expected to offer deep insights into these dimensions and is anticipated in the next few months.
Why South Asia Needs Its Own AI Ethics
Highlighting the regional complexity in South Asia, Kim said AI policy cannot be copied and pasted across borders.
“India is very different from the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, or Bangladesh—not just in size, but in language, infrastructure, and digital access,” she said.
Global datasets, she warned, often ignore indigenous communities and ethnic languages, leading to skewed or incomplete AI strategies. Through RAM, UNESCO hopes to promote ethical AI frameworks that prioritize inclusion, equity, and representation.
Digital Dangers: Deepfakes, OTP Frauds, and More
One major takeaway from the consultations was the growing concern over AI-fueled digital threats, especially deepfake videos, fake audio, and online scams like OTP fraud. Kim noted that while India is digitizing rapidly, research on AI-specific risks in South Asia is still scarce.
“We need more region-specific studies to understand the harm and benefits of AI,” she said.
Learning from Global Peers
India is not alone in this journey. Countries like Chile and Indonesia have already revised their national laws after similar RAM assessments. Chile updated its data and cybersecurity laws, while Indonesia created a national AI task force.
UNESCO’s approach is not about rankings, Kim explained, but about building country-specific strategies based on real-world context.
India’s Growing Influence in AI Governance
India’s participation in UNESCO’s AI ethics initiatives adds weight to its growing international leadership in tech governance. With domestic efforts like the INDIAai Mission and the AI Safety Institute, India is shaping global conversations around responsible AI.
UNESCO’s Global Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, adopted by 193 countries in 2021, is the only international agreement on the topic. India’s collaboration with UNESCO reflects its commitment to turning values like fairness, transparency, and inclusivity into policy action.
What’s Next?
India’s AI RAM report will be released in the coming months. It promises to guide both national AI strategy and serve as a global reference, especially for countries in the Global South navigating similar ethical and technological challenges.
For a country as vast and complex as India, the message is clear: AI governance must be built from the grassroots up, with regional realities at its core.
