As India sharpens its focus on becoming a global powerhouse in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the conversation around ethical and responsible AI has never been more crucial. On April 8, 2025, Hyderabad will turn into a buzzing nerve centre of AI policy discourse as it plays host to the third AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (AI RAM) stakeholder consultation.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, and Ikigai Law as the implementation partner, the event aims to steer India’s AI journey with inclusivity, safety, and ethical governance at its core.
And this is not just another tech conference. This consultation is part of a five-city mission to assess India’s AI preparedness and develop a roadmap tailored specifically to the Indian context. The goal? To ensure that AI doesn’t just evolve, but evolves responsibly and inclusively in the world’s most populous democracy.
A Mission-Fueled Dialogue on India’s AI Future
Taking place at T-Works, Hyderabad, the event will kick off at 1:30 PM and promises to host some of the most influential minds driving the IndiaAI Mission.
A fireside chat with Abhishek Singh, CEO of the IndiaAI Mission and Additional Secretary at MeitY, is slated to be one of the key highlights. Singh, who has been at the forefront of India’s digital transformation initiatives, will offer valuable insights into the government’s vision behind the ₹10,000+ crore INDIAai Mission, with a particular focus on the “Safe and Trusted AI” pillar — a cornerstone in India’s AI ambitions.
Following the fireside, a panel discussion titled “Shaping Ethics in AI Governance: Government and Multilateral Perspectives” will bring together eminent personalities from MeitY, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, UNESCO, Amrita University, and the Government of Telangana.
The discussion will likely cover policy design, risk mitigation, and inclusive AI governance, tapping into the experiences of both national stakeholders and international bodies like UNESCO, which has been vocal about the need for globally aligned AI ethics.
Real Talk, Real Impact: Breakout Sessions to Drive Deeper Change
What sets this event apart is not just who’s talking, but how the conversation is structured.
The consultation will feature four targeted breakout sessions, each designed to deep-dive into the pillars that define AI readiness:
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Governance – How can we develop effective legal and ethical frameworks?
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Workforce Readiness – Is India’s talent pipeline geared up for the AI wave?
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Infrastructure – Are we equipped with the right digital and compute infrastructure?
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Use Cases – What are the most promising and scalable applications of AI in the Indian context?
Each session aims to generate actionable insights, not just ideas. These focused group discussions will pull in voices from the tech industry, academia, government think tanks, and startup founders, giving a 360-degree view of where India stands and what more needs to be done.
The AI RAM Initiative: India’s Attempt to Localise Global AI Frameworks
The Hyderabad consultation is the third in the ongoing AI RAM series, following similar high-level engagements held earlier in New Delhi and Bangalore. Together, these events are laying the groundwork for what will eventually become an India-specific AI policy report.
At the heart of the AI RAM initiative lies a simple but powerful idea: AI must serve the people — safely, ethically, and equitably. The initiative is designed to map India’s existing capabilities, identify gaps, and highlight opportunities for growth in the AI governance space.
And it’s not just government bodies doing the talking. The event opens its doors to startups, policymakers, engineers, students, industry veterans, and researchers alike — making it a true multi-stakeholder dialogue.
For those interested in contributing to this vital national conversation, registrations are open here.
A Step Towards Democratizing AI in India
India’s digital economy is poised for explosive growth, and AI will be its engine. But as AI begins to reshape industries — from healthcare to finance to education — it also brings complex challenges: bias, data privacy, algorithmic accountability, and more.
This is why consultations like these matter. They help ensure that India’s AI future is not just technologically sound but also ethically robust. With the INDIAai Mission placing a strong emphasis on Safe and Trusted AI, we’re seeing a conscious move from just building to building responsibly.
This approach aligns perfectly with UNESCO’s global AI ethics framework and presents India as a thought leader in inclusive AI development on the global stage.
Why the Startup Community Should Care
For India’s booming startup ecosystem, this initiative holds immense relevance. From AI-driven healthtech to agritech and edtech innovations, the future belongs to those who innovate with intent and integrity.
The AI RAM initiative doesn’t just influence government policy — it shapes the ecosystem that startups will build and thrive in. Understanding how ethical AI governance will be structured is not only beneficial but necessary for founders, investors, and innovators who want to stay ahead of the regulatory and policy curve.
Startups that engage early with these dialogues can become policy-aligned, impact-driven leaders, leveraging India’s AI infrastructure and frameworks to scale both responsibly and sustainably.
India’s AI journey is picking up speed, but to stay on the right track, it needs regular pit stops — moments of reflection, assessment, and course correction. The Hyderabad consultation is one such pit stop — and perhaps, a pivotal one.
By bringing together minds from across sectors and walks of life, this event offers a glimpse into how India can build an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, ethical, and globally competitive.
The future of AI in India won’t be written in isolation. It will be co-authored by technologists, policymakers, academics, and entrepreneurs — and this consultation is one of those critical chapters in that story.
