But the Government of India’s recent white paper, “Democratising Access to AI Infrastructure”, makes a crucial intervention: the future of AI in India will not be decided by algorithms alone, but by who has access to the infrastructure that powers them. A public goodThe paper makes a compelling case for treating AI infrastructure as a form of digital public utility. Just as roads enable commerce and electricity enables industry, AI infrastructure enables modern innovation, governance, and research. Without careful planning, AI infrastructure could exacerbate environmental stress, particularly in water and power-constrained regions. The scale of AI infrastructure required cannot be delivered by the State alone.

Source: The Hindu January 22, 2026 09:04 UTC