AI Regulations Must Evolve with Technology, Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed the critical need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulations to match the fast pace of technology evolution. During the launch of AI for Viksit Bharat: The Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth and the Frontier Tech Repository, organized by NITI Aayog in New Delhi, she highlighted how AI’s potential must be harnessed responsibly for inclusive development, smart city planning, and economic transformation.

Sitharaman described AI as a “real-time, dynamic technology” that requires regulatory frameworks evolving alongside it. “We need to be clear that regulation has to run the race equally as much as the technology is running it,” she remarked, emphasizing the need for fast-track AI policies, governance models, and ethical AI practices.

The Finance Minister pointed out India’s capability to adopt AI-driven solutions across sectors, from urban infrastructure improvement to rural development initiatives. She advocated the deployment of AI-assisted technologies across districts to provide “in-situ solutions” for pressing challenges that have persisted for years.

To support this vision, NITI Aayog unveiled two flagship initiatives under the Frontier Tech Hub: the AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap and the Frontier Tech Repository. These programs aim to boost AI innovation, promote sustainable development, and enhance economic growth, aligning with India’s goal to achieve Viksit Bharat 2047.

Sitharaman concluded by urging all stakeholders to responsibly integrate AI into everyday governance and social welfare efforts, leveraging emerging technologies, digital tools, and AI ethics frameworks for a safer, smarter, and more prosperous future.