Indias AI Safety Institute A Game Changer

Topic: GS2 – Governance, GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

India is establishing an AI Safety Institute (AISI) to address AI risks, ensuring safe and ethical AI development while promoting global collaboration.

India’s AI Mission and AI Safety Institute (AISI)

• India is taking a major step in artificial intelligence by launching an indigenous AI model and establishing an AI Safety Institute (AISI).
• The AISI will function under the “Safe and Trusted” pillar of the IndiaAI Mission.
• Instead of rigid regulations, AISIs worldwide are being set up to address AI risks dynamically.

Global Efforts in AI Safety Institutes

• Several countries, including the U.K., the U.S., Singapore, and Japan, have established AISIs since 2023.
• These institutes are part of a global network focused on a common technical understanding of AI risks.
• The U.K. AISI has launched an open-source platform called ‘Inspect’ to evaluate AI models on reasoning and knowledge.
• The U.S. AISI has formed a task force to address national security and public safety risks.
• Singapore’s AISI is focusing on content assurance, safe model design, and testing.
• These global efforts highlight the importance of technical rigor and international collaboration.

India-Specific Challenges and Solutions

• India needs to address AI’s accuracy and potential biases in the local context.
• The AISI will operate using a hub-and-spoke model, working with academic institutions, startups, industries, and government bodies.
• India’s diverse socioeconomic conditions, multiple languages, and digital gaps must be considered in AI safety measures.
• Some Indian startups are already working on improving AI data quality by involving rural communities in creating datasets.
• Efforts are also being made to develop multilingual AI models to promote inclusivity.

Advancing AI Research and Ethical Development

• India’s AISI will focus on research using Indian datasets to develop indigenous AI solutions.
• The Safe and Trusted pillar has selected eight Responsible AI Projects, with further research opportunities being explored.
• Key areas of focus include:
  • Watermarking and labelling AI-generated content.
  • Ethical AI frameworks.
  • Risk assessment and management.
  • Detection of deepfakes.
• India’s AISI should collaborate with international initiatives like the Bletchley Declaration to address cybersecurity and disinformation threats.

Need for Global Collaboration and Standardization

• AI governance requires both local adaptation and global alignment.
• Establishing a standardized AI safety taxonomy will ensure consistent communication across technical, legal, and policy domains.
• An international AI model notification framework should be developed to share information on AI advancements and risks.
• Transparency in AI development will support coordinated global governance.

India’s Role in Inclusive AI Governance

• India can take a leadership role in AI governance, especially for emerging economies in the Global South.
• Many developing countries lack the resources to set up AISIs, making India’s involvement crucial in co-developing AI safety frameworks.
• Collaboration with global organizations can help India refine its AI governance strategies.

Building a Safe AI Ecosystem

• India’s AISI will focus on critical AI safety themes such as:
  • Machine unlearning.
  • Synthetic data generation.
  • AI bias mitigation.
  • Privacy-enhancing tools.
• Indigenous AI tools and frameworks must be developed with responsible AI principles.
• At the same time, interoperability with the global AISI network is essential for effective AI safety governance.

Conclusion

• India’s AI Safety Institute (AISI) will ensure ethical AI development while addressing local challenges.
• By collaborating globally, it can establish robust safety frameworks, promoting responsible AI governance for both India and emerging economies.

PYQ: Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare? (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023)

Practice Question:  Discuss the significance of India’s AI Safety Institute (AISI) in addressing AI risks and fostering global cooperation in AI governance. (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Remodelling the UAE-India aviation partnership

Topic: GS2 – International Relations

Context

India’s aviation sector is rapidly expanding, with growing passenger demand and increasing international travel. Strengthening aviation cooperation with the UAE can enhance connectivity, reduce airfare costs, and boost economic and trade relations.

India’s Expanding Aviation Ambitions

• The development of Navi Mumbai International Airport reflects India’s growing aviation sector.
• India is already the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, and its expansion continues at a rapid pace.
• Government initiatives such as the UDAN scheme aim to improve connectivity across the country.
• To support this growth, regulatory changes and stronger international partnerships are necessary.

The UAE’s Importance in India’s Aviation Sector

• The UAE is one of India’s closest strategic partners and a major travel destination.
• In 2023, over 4.5 million Indian tourists visited the UAE, making it India’s top outbound market.
• Indian carriers operate over 600 flights to the UAE weekly, while UAE carriers operate over 500 flights to India.
• Despite these high numbers, the demand for travel far exceeds the available flight capacity.
• This imbalance has led to high ticket prices and fewer travel options for passengers.

Challenges in Bilateral Air Service Agreements

• Existing air service agreements limit UAE carriers to only 15 Indian cities.
• Key Indian growth centers like Surat, Indore, and Visakhapatnam lack direct flights to the UAE.
• Indian carriers also face restrictions in expanding their operations to Dubai.
• This imbalance prevents people from traveling easily for business, leisure, or family visits.

The Need for a Modernized Aviation Strategy

• With India’s increasing passport holders, more people will seek international travel.
• Current restrictive policies will lead to rising airfare costs and reduced travel options.
• Expanding aviation ties, similar to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), can boost economic growth.
• A progressive aviation strategy can drive investments and improve regional and international connectivity.

Opportunities for UAE-India Collaboration

• The UAE is willing to support India’s aviation sector through investments and partnerships.
• Areas of cooperation include training Indian pilots, developing aviation maintenance facilities, and boosting tourism.
• The UAE can also invest in India’s UDAN scheme to improve air connectivity for smaller cities.
• Such partnerships will create economic benefits for both countries and enhance aviation infrastructure.

Promoting Cooperation Over Competition

• Strengthening aviation ties between India and the UAE can create a shared aviation ecosystem.
• Indian cities have the potential to become major global travel hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
• Expanding connectivity will promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth beyond India’s borders.
• Enhanced aviation cooperation is part of the broader India-UAE strategic partnership, opening doors for mutual growth and development.

Practice Question:  How can enhanced aviation cooperation between India and the UAE contribute to economic growth, trade expansion, and improved connectivity? Suggest policy measures to strengthen this partnership. (250 Words /15 marks)

3. Little has changed in the Income-Tax Bill, 2025

 

Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity

Context

The Union Finance Minister introduced the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, in Parliament to replace the existing Income-Tax Act, 1961.

Introduction

• The government claims the new Bill aims to simplify tax laws for both taxpayers and administrators.
• It is intended to reduce legal disputes, enhance transparency, and create a fairer tax environment.

Challenges in the Existing Law

• The current Income-Tax Act, 1961, is considered too complex, with numerous exceptions and unclear provisions.
• The government argues that simplification will improve compliance and ease tax administration.
• However, despite promises of clarity, the new Bill retains much of the previous law’s complexity.

Global Trends in Legal Drafting

• Many countries are adopting plain and simple language in legal documents to improve accessibility.
• Simplifying tax laws can reduce litigation and increase taxpayer compliance.
• However, critics argue that too much simplification may compromise accuracy.

Lack of Clarity in the Proposed Bill

• The Bill continues to use dense and technical language, making it difficult for ordinary taxpayers to understand.
• Minor wording changes, such as replacing “notwithstanding” with “irrespective,” do not effectively simplify the law.
• The overall structure remains largely unchanged, making it unclear how the new Bill improves accessibility.

Minimal Policy Changes

• The Bill does not introduce significant changes in tax policies.
• It primarily restructures existing provisions without altering the fundamental approach to taxation.
• The government could have achieved these updates through amendments rather than drafting an entirely new law.

Structural Changes Without Substantial Benefits

• Some outdated provisions have been removed, and compliance timelines have been restructured.
• However, shifting timelines to tables and schedules does not reduce the law’s complexity.
• The continued reliance on references to the old law creates confusion rather than clarity.

Potential Increase in Legal Disputes

• By making textual changes without modifying core tax principles, the Bill may create new legal uncertainties.
• Indian courts have already clarified many provisions of the 1961 law, but the Bill could reopen these debates.
• This could lead to an increase in litigation rather than a reduction in tax disputes.

Expanded Powers of Tax Authorities

• One of the most concerning aspects of the Bill is its approach to search and seizure powers.
• The existing law already grants tax officials significant powers to conduct searches and seize assets.
• The Bill further expands these powers to allow searches of electronic data, including emails and social media accounts.
• Authorities can override access codes, raising concerns about privacy and potential misuse.

Privacy Concerns and Lack of Judicial Oversight

• The Bill permits tax authorities to access digital communication without requiring judicial approval.
• This unrestricted power to search electronic data could lead to violations of privacy.
• The lack of transparency in search procedures creates risks of potential abuse.

Conclusion

• While the Bill aims to simplify tax laws, it largely retains the complexities of the existing law.
• Instead of a complete overhaul, Parliament could focus on refining the current law and removing harsh provisions.
• Expanding the powers of tax authorities without safeguards raises significant concerns about privacy and fairness.

Practice Question:  The proposed Income-Tax Bill, 2025, aims to simplify tax laws but retains many complexities and introduces expanded government powers, especially in search and seizure operations. Critically analyze the implications of this Bill on taxpayer rights, legal certainty, and privacy concerns. (250 Words /15 marks)

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