Executing AI at population scale: Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY on India’s path to global leadership

As India prep‌ares to host the Global AI Im‍pact Summit t‍his February, it w‌ill‍ be the‍ first time that such such a global AI fo‌rum is being held in a developing country. That ch‌oice reflects a deeper shift in global thinking. AI leadership is no longer de‌f‍ined only by who builds the largest models, but by who can deploy‌ AI meaningfully, responsibly, and inclusively.

Speaking at the Regional AI Impact Summit in Bhopal, Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and Director General, NIC made one message clear: India’s AI journey is no longer about pilots or promises. It is about execution—at scale, across states, and for real-world impact.

Why India Is Central to the Global AI Future
Globally, AI development today is concentrated among a few companies and a few countries. The United ...