About NLU Delhi

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The primary objective of National Law University Delhi is to evolve and impart comprehensive and interdisciplinary legal education that is socially relevant. NLU Delhi seeks to promote legal and ethical values and foster the rule of law and constitutional principles.

It works toward disseminating legal knowledge for national development and enhancing the ability to analyse contemporary issues of public concern and their legal implications for the benefit of society.

About CyberPeace

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CyberPeace is a global non-profit organisation headquartered in India, working at the intersection of cybersecurity, policy, and peace building. It envisions a safe, resilient, and inclusive cyberspace for all.

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Through its global initiatives, CyberPeace drives:

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• Capacity building
• Policy research
• Incident response
• Public awareness

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It advances the vision of “CyberPeace and Trust in Technology.”

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CyberPeace integrates innovation, education, and advocacy to strengthen digital ecosystems worldwide and aligns its mission with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

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Background and Rationale

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Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming governance, economic activity, national security, and access to public services. India stands at a critical inflexion point where innovation-led growth must be balanced with safeguards for trust, safety, accountability, and fundamental rights. The launch of the IndiaAI Mission reflects a strong national commitment to building indigenous AI capacity, fostering innovation, and positioning India as a global leader in responsible AI.

At the same time, emerging risks such as deepfakes, automated misinformation, data misuse, opaque algorithmic decision-making, and cross-border cybercrime highlight the urgent need for legal clarity and institutional preparedness. Existing frameworks, including the IT Act, intermediary rules, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, require careful interpretation and operational alignment in light of AI-driven systems. Globally, efforts such as the proposed United Nations Convention on Cybercrime signal a growing emphasis on international cooperation and harmonised norms.

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Objectives

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• Assess the strategic vision and governance architecture of the IndiaAI Mission.
• Examine the adequacy of existing legal frameworks in addressing AI-related risks.
• Explore institutional models for coordinated AI governance in India.
• Strengthen alignment between national priorities and international legal developments.
• Explore the possibility of aligning safe, trusted and responsible AI across different sectors.
• Contribute policy recommendations in the form of a white paper for government consideration.

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Purpose of the Roundtable

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This closed-room roundtable sought to bring together policymakers, parliamentarians, senior government officials, legal experts, technologists, academicians, and institutional leaders to engage in a candid and outcome-oriented dialogue.

The discussion aimed to:

• Assess India’s current legal and governance readiness.
• Identify critical gaps.
• Deliberate on forward-looking institutional models, including the possible establishment of a dedicated ministry for AI and emerging technologies.

The deliberations were expected to culminate in a policy-oriented white paper with actionable recommendations.

Participation

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The roundtable brought together a carefully curated group of participants representing key stakeholders in India’s AI governance ecosystem. Participants included:

• Senior officials from relevant government ministries and regulatory bodies
• Members of Parliament
• Representatives from law enforcement and investigative agencies
• Members of the judiciary and quasi-judicial bodies
• Leading legal practitioners
• Academia and research institutions
• Industry thought leaders

Participation was by invitation only, enabling focused and high-quality deliberations in a closed-door setting.

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Sub Themes and Key Discussion Areas

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1. IndiaAI Mission and National AI Strategy

• Assessing the strategic objectives, governance structure, implementation roadmap, and anticipated socio-economic impact of the IndiaAI Mission.
• Identifying gaps in regulatory readiness, institutional coordination, and accountability mechanisms.

2. Institutional Architecture for AI Governance in India

• Deliberating on the proposal for establishing a dedicated ministry or nodal institutional framework for AI and emerging technologies.
• Examining global models and evaluating their relevance for the Indian constitutional and administrative context.

3. International Legal Frameworks and the UN Convention on Cybercrime

• Analysing the implications of the proposed United Nations Convention on Cybercrime for India.
• Focusing on crimes committed through ICT systems, cross-border investigation, evidence sharing in electronic form, and the role of AI in both enabling and combating cybercrime.

4. Emerging Technologies and AI Regulation in India

• Examining regulatory challenges posed by generative AI, automated decision systems, and synthetic media.
• Addressing deepfakes, algorithmic transparency, and misuse of AI in information ecosystems.

5. Intermediary Liability and the IT Act in the Age of AI

• Re-evaluating the Information Technology Act, allied rules, and intermediary obligations in light of AI-driven platforms, automated content moderation, recommender systems, and generative models.

6. DPDP Act and Rules Implementation

• Discussing the operationalisation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act in AI contexts.
• Addressing consent, purpose limitation, automated processing, data fiduciary obligations, and enforcement challenges.

7. Capacity Building and Institutional Readiness

• Exploring manpower development, judicial and regulatory capacity building, and the role of academia and research institutions.
• Promoting AI literacy for citizens and legal/ethical training for AI professionals.

8. Ethical Considerations of Trusted AI

• Fairness, transparency, and explainability in AI systems.
• Addressing bias, discrimination, and algorithmic accountability.
• Ensuring ethical use of AI in public services with human oversight.

9. Institutional Roles in India’s AI Ecosystem

• Defining the roles of state, regulators, private sector, civil society, think tanks, and universities in fostering safe and trusted AI.

10. AI Safety, Security, and Risk Management

• Addressing cybersecurity risks in AI systems, AI misuse, deepfakes, and misinformation.
• Discussing risk assessment frameworks and secure-by-design and safety-by-design AI models.

11. Impact of AI Systems on Human Rights / Human-Centric AI

• Discussing AI and employment: reskilling, upskilling, inclusion, accessibility, and digital divide.
• Promoting AI for social good and protecting vulnerable populations.

12. Regulatory Alignment with India’s AI Mission

• Aligning sectoral policies with national AI strategies.
• Sector-specific AI regulation in healthcare, education, and finance.
• Encouraging regulatory sandboxes and adaptive regulatory approaches.

13. AI Innovation with Trust and Compliance

• Balancing innovation with regulation.
• Supporting startups while ensuring responsibility.
• Developing responsible AI certification, standards, industry best practices, and self-regulation.

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Conclusion

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As India advances its ambitions under the IndiaAI Mission, the need for coherent legal frameworks and robust institutional mechanisms becomes increasingly critical. The roundtable aims to provide a structured platform for informed dialogue on aligning innovation with accountability, trust, and constitutional values.

The discussions and insights generated will be consolidated into a policy-oriented white paper, offering practical and forward-looking recommendations to support the development of a safe, trusted, and responsible AI ecosystem in India.

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