Artificial Intelligence (AI) will likely become a cornerstone of India’s digital transformation as the country moves beyond basic connectivity towards an intelligence-driven ecosystem, a senior government official said on Friday.
Speaking at the annual forum of telecom and digital ministers from the 11 ASEAN member states, Amit Agrawal, Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, said India views AI as a transformative force that must be guided by responsibility, transparency and public trust. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening digital cooperation with ASEAN nations.
Agrawal noted that India has made rapid progress in building its digital infrastructure. He cited nationwide 4G coverage and the world’s fastest rollout of 5G services.
Agrawal also highlighted expanded rural broadband connectivity through the BharatNet programme. He further asserted India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub for telecom and digital technologies.
According to him, these advances have laid the foundation for a shift towards intelligent digital systems that can drive inclusion, resilience and economic growth.
The official drew attention to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker. He described these platforms as key tools that have enabled inclusive growth and efficient service delivery at scale.
He also shared insights on initiatives such as Sanchar Saathi, which focuses on telecom user protection and fraud prevention.
Emphasising the importance of safe and trusted technology, Agrawal outlined the objectives of the IndiaAI Mission.
The mission places strong emphasis on the ethical deployment and governance of AI. He said India stands ready to collaborate with ASEAN countries on AI capacity building, standards development and real-world applications.
The forum discussed ways to deepen regional digital cooperation, with a focus on digital inclusion and integration.
Participants acknowledged the ASEAN–India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation, adopted at the 21st ASEAN–India Summit.
The statement aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as digital public infrastructure, fintech, cybersecurity, AI, capacity building, and sustainable investment.
Member countries also reviewed progress under the ASEAN–India 2025 Digital Work Plan, particularly through ongoing capacity-building programmes.
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