On 16 February 2026, UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, launched the India Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission and Ikigai Law, and supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the report examines India’s ethical AI landscape, highlights key initiatives and preparedness, and provides actionable recommendations to advance human-centered and ethical AI.
The India AI Readiness Assessment Report is the result of an 18-month effort involving five regional consultations across Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Guwahati, with contributions from over 600 stakeholders including government representatives, startups, research institutions, academia, and civil society. The research process combined desk studies, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and multi-stakeholder consultations, focusing on governance, AI use cases, workforce readiness, infrastructure, and investment.
The launch ceremony featured prominent participants including Dr. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY; and Tim Curtis, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. The event included a fireside chat with Dr. Vilas Dhar, CEO of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, moderated by Dr. Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Chief of Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO. Speakers highlighted the importance of embedding ethics by design across the AI lifecycle, ensuring responsible deployment, and engaging a broad set of stakeholders to shape India’s AI ecosystem.
Key findings from the report show that India has an evolving hybrid AI governance framework and is one of the fastest-growing global AI talent hubs, accounting for 16% of the world’s AI professionals. The country has seen strong innovation momentum with over 86,000 AI patents filed since 2010, progress in multilingual AI, and advancements in digital public service delivery. However, the report also identifies priority areas such as the need for comprehensive legal gap analysis and inclusive AI transition planning to prevent widening inequalities, particularly affecting the informal sector.
The report provides a roadmap for responsible and inclusive AI, recommending informed governance through risk and legal review, co-developed ethical AI guidelines, strengthened centre–state coordination, broader access to AI datasets via platforms like AIKosh, enhanced public trust through governance and awareness, workforce preparation, integration of environmental sustainability in AI planning, and measures to promote diversity in AI R&D. It emphasizes that AI readiness is not just about technological infrastructure but also requires ethical governance, inclusive participation, and responsible innovation.
