AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) formed for national AI strategy

Key facts

• The Centre announced the formation of the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) to lead the national AI governance strategy.
• AIGEG is a high-level inter-ministerial body designed to coordinate the development of AI policy across central ministries and institutions.
• The body is chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, with Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Commerce & Industry, serving as Vice Chairperson.
• Members of AIGEG include the Principal Scientific Advisor, the Chief Economic Advisor, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.
• The body includes secretaries from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Telecommunications, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Science and Technology, and a representative of the National Security Council Secretariat.
• The Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) will support AIGEG by providing expert advisory on global developments, emerging technologies, risks, and regulation.
• The mandate of AIGEG includes reviewing existing AI mechanisms, studying regulatory gaps, issuing compliance guidelines for firms, and developing a roadmap for AI deployment over the next decade.
• The AI Safety Institute is designated as the main body responsible for guiding the safe and trusted development and use of AI in India.
• AI governance guidelines released by MeitY in November last year suggested amending the Information Technology (IT) Act to classify AI systems, create an India-specific risk assessment framework, and establish a national database for AI-related security incidents.