Kamal Ghorui
New Delhi: As India sharpens its push to build a rules-based framework for artificial intelligence amid rapid technological advances and rising global scrutiny, the Centre has set up a specialised expert body to bridge the gap between policy ambition and technical complexity.The ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has constituted the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC), a standing advisory group that will support the newly formed AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) in shaping India’s AI governance architecture. The move comes at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with regulating fast-evolving AI systems while balancing innovation and safeguards.According to an official memorandum, the TPEC will provide “specialised technical, policy and strategic expertise” to enable informed decision-making on regulatory design, global engagement and emerging AI capabilities.Chaired by the MeitY secretary, the panel brings together experts from academia, industry and digital policy, including representatives from IIT Madras, IIT Gandhinagar, Nasscom, Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and MAIT.The committee’s mandate includes briefing the AIGEG on “matters of national importance”, identifying risks and regulatory gaps, tracking global policy developments, and advising on India’s diplomatic positioning in AI governance.Within the broader governance structure, the AIGEG will steer strategic direction and inter-ministerial coordination, while the TPEC will translate complex technological developments into actionable policy inputs.Officials said the framework is designed to ensure a “dynamic, adaptive and future-forward approach” to AI regulation, aligned with India’s socio-economic context while keeping pace with global standards.The institutionalisation of expert-led advisory mechanisms signals a shift towards more structured and anticipatory governance, as India positions itself as both a major AI adopter and a rule-shaper in global forums.
