Artificial Intelligence in Indian Military

Syllabus: Prelims Unit I - General Science

Current Developments and Investments

• Defence budget allocation of ₹6.21 lakh crore ($75 billion) with focus on military modernization
• Development of indigenous AI systems like Indrajaal autonomous drone security system
• Microsoft's investment of $3 billion for data centres in Telangana
• Active participation in international AI initiatives

Policy Framework and Institutional Setup

• National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence outlines vision but lacks implementation guidelines
• Responsible AI for All paper focuses on accountability and transparency principles
• Establishment of Defence Artificial Intelligence Council (DAIC) and Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA)
• Need for more robust frameworks for military AI deployment and regulation

Major Challenges

• Limited availability of digitized training data
• High costs of data centre infrastructure
• Resource allocation conflicts between legacy system upgrades and AI development
• Fragmented policies and implementation guidelines
• Inter-service silos among Army, Navy, and Air Force affecting interoperability
• Over-reliance on public sector units (PSUs) for defence manufacturing

International Context

• Global competition in military AI development
• Advanced AI capabilities of countries like Israel and China
• India's need to accelerate AI adoption to remain competitive
• Mixed government stance on AI implementation and safety concerns

Strategic Requirements

• Need for public-private partnerships (PPPs)
• Importance of private sector involvement in defence manufacturing
• Requirement for enhanced inter-service coordination
• Development of comprehensive implementation frameworks
• Focus on strategic alignment and ethical deployment