India’s AI Future Depends on Cracking the Data Puzzle

A Data-Driven Opportunity

India is stepping into the global AI spotlight with strong ambitions, but experts say that its ability to lead will depend heavily on one critical enabler: data. With over a billion people generating vast, diverse datasets, India has the chance to build inclusive, impactful AI. Yet, to transform this opportunity into a competitive edge, the country must rethink how it governs, shares, and safeguards data. Industry leaders and policy experts argue that without a strong data-sharing ecosystem—centered on equity, security and innovation—India risks stalling its AI momentum despite its demographic and digital advantages.

The Infrastructure of Trust

Policymakers in India are increasingly focusing on constructing frameworks that balance openness with privacy. Initiatives like India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) aim to grant citizens control over their data while enabling secure sharing with trusted entities. This “infrastructure of trust” could serve as a blueprint for ethical AI development in other democracies. However, challenges remain in streamlining implementation across federal and local layers, standardizing interfaces, and ensuring both public and private sector compliance. As nations around the world race to build AI capabilities, India’s ability to scale trustworthy data sharing may become its defining competitive differentiator.