SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) | Ministry of MSMEs
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India unveiled three key publications under the AI for India 2030 initiative: 1) Future Farming in India: AI Playbook for Agriculture, 2) Transforming Small Businesses: An AI Playbook for India’s SMEs, and 3) Shaping the AI Sandbox Ecosystem for the Intelligent Age: White Paper. The launch involved collaboration with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India, World Economic Forum and multiple ministries.
The three documents are deeply interconnected deliverables that form the strategic and operational foundation of India’s national AI for India 2030 initiative. They all collaborate under the overarching multi-stakeholder governance model called the IMPACT AI Framework.
In essence, the three documents provide a cohesive answer to what, where, and how AI will be developed and safely deployed in India:
1. The Foundational Framework (The “How” and “Trust”)
The White Paper on AI Sandboxes (Shaping the AI Sandbox Ecosystem for the Intelligent Age) provides the most fundamental layer of the strategy. It is the blueprint for creating the secure, controlled environments—the AI Sandboxes—required to test, validate, and certify all new AI solutions before they reach the market. This process is crucial to embedding “responsible AI by design” and ensuring that new technology is safe, reliable, and trustworthy, which is a pre-condition for public and governmental adoption.
2. The Sectoral Roadmaps (The “What” and “Where”)
The two Playbooks are the practical, sector-specific application guides that direct the Sandboxes’ purpose.
The Agriculture Playbook defines the specific high-impact problems in farming, like pest prediction and crop planning, that AI solutions must solve.
The SME Playbook defines the challenges facing small businesses, such as a massive credit gap and complex export compliance, and outlines the AI solutions (like AI Agents) needed to unlock economic value.
3. The Link: AI Solutions Must Pass the Sandbox
Both Playbooks use the AI Sandbox as a core mechanism within the broader IMPACT AI Framework to overcome skepticism and ensure scalability. Any AI solution developed for a farmer or an MSME must first be tested and certified in the rigorous, regulated Sandbox Ecosystem before it can be trusted, funded, and rolled out on a national scale.
What is the “AI for India 2030” initiative?
It is a government-led strategic initiative aimed at embedding responsible, inclusive and scalable AI across India’s economy — especially in sectors like agriculture, MSMEs, and digital infrastructure — to drive productivity, innovation and equitable growth.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How will the government ensure effective implementation, monitoring and equitable uptake of these AI playbooks across diverse geographies and enterprises, especially small farmers and micro-enterprises that often face capacity, access and infrastructure constraints?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2181469