11 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. India’s journey so far on the AI military bandwagon

(Source – Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

India is integrating AI into its military, focusing on modernization, but faces challenges in funding, policy, and interoperability.

India’s Progress in Military AI Development

Increasing Focus on AI for Defence Modernisation

• India is advancing its military capabilities by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems into its defence framework.
• The Defence Budget for 2023-24 was ₹6.21 lakh crore ($75 billion), emphasizing modernization and upgrading of military systems.
• Innovative products like the Indrajaal autonomous drone security system have been developed.
• Significant foreign investments, such as Microsoft’s $3 billion commitment to building data centres in Telangana, bolster India’s AI ecosystem.

Government’s Commitment to AI in Defence

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized AI’s potential for revolutionizing military operations, from predictive analytics to autonomous decision-making.
• India participates in multiple international AI initiatives, reflecting its commitment to leveraging AI for defence purposes.
• Although progress is evident, certain hurdles need to be addressed for efficient AI adoption.

Challenges in Adopting Military AI

Funding and Infrastructure Limitations

• AI development requires extensive digitized data and expensive data centres, which pose a challenge for India.
• India’s military also needs to allocate resources for replacing outdated legacy systems, further straining the budget.
• Legacy hardware like older aircraft is no longer competitive globally and requires modernization.

Policy Gaps and Fragmentation

• India’s AI policies lack clear implementation mechanisms for military use.
• Documents such as the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the Responsible AI for All paper provide guidelines but are not specific to military AI deployment.
• Institutions like the Defence Artificial Intelligence Council (DAIC) and the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA) have been established but lack updated publicly available progress reports.

The International AI Race

• Countries like Israel and China are rapidly developing and deploying military AI, placing them ahead of India.
• India needs a clearer vision and faster implementation to remain competitive in the global AI race.
• Cautionary remarks from leaders, such as comparing AI to nuclear weapons, highlight apprehensions about its potential dangers.

Specific Challenges in India

• Inter-Service Silos in Armed Forces
  • The separate doctrines and communication systems of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force hinder interoperability and joint operations.
• Reliance on Public Sector Units (PSUs)
  • India’s defence sector has historically depended on PSUs, despite the presence of private players and startups producing high-quality systems.
  • Introducing public-private partnerships (PPPs) and fostering competition, as seen in the space sector, could accelerate AI innovation.

Path Forward for AI in Defence

• India needs systemic changes to address inter-service silos and reduce overreliance on PSUs.
• Strong frameworks and clear policies are essential for the ethical and effective deployment of military AI.
• International collaboration and fostering innovation through PPPs will enhance AI adoption and capabilities.
• With a cohesive strategy, India can harness AI’s potential to revolutionize its defence ecosystem.

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 opportunities and challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence into India’s military for modernizing its defence capabilities. (150 Words /10 marks)

For more such UPSC-related The Hindu editorial analysis: Check Out- 10 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis