Institute for Governance, Policies & Politics

#IGPPExpertTalks – AI Special Series | AI for Bharat Should India follow the global AI race, or build a path of its own? As countries compete to shape the future of AI, India faces a larger strategic choice: how do we build an AI ecosystem that responds to our own needs, strengths and priorities? In this episode of #IGPPExpertTalks, Mr. Ankush Sabharwal (@SabharwalAnkush), Founder, CEO & CTO of @CoRover_App, joins Dr. Manish Tiwari (@ManishTiwari), Director, Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (@IGPPVMF), to explore India’s AI ambitions and what it will take for India to move from adopting AI to creating with it. Watch here: youtube.com/live/cJo1eXlsrbk @Ranjana_Kush | @AnkurTi76797199 | @Vikas_IGPP #IGPPExpertTalks #AIforBharat #SovereignAI #AI #AIGovernance #TechnologyPolicy #DigitalSovereignty #AIIndia #IGPP #BharatGPT #CoRover #AIStrategy #IndiaTech

#Explainer How did social media shape Brazil’s historic election campaign? In just 20 days, President Lula’s campaign reportedly gained over 10 million additional votes. At the centre of its strategy was ‘Lula’s Army’, a WhatsApp-based network that mobilised supporters through local volunteers, time-bound missions and coordinated online amplification. Our latest explainer examines the strategy behind this digital mobilisation and what it could mean for the future of political campaigning in India. Read the full explainer on our website: igpp.in/publications/explain… @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #DigitalPolitics #SocialMedia #PoliticalCampaigns #Brazil

#PolicyWatch Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating ESTIC 2026, called on researchers, industry leaders and young innovators to deliver concrete, measurable and scalable technological outcomes within three years. Emphasising AI and other frontier technologies, he highlighted the need to translate scientific research into practical solutions that address real-world challenges and strengthen India’s technological capabilities. The focus is on moving from research to deployment, with measurable outcomes that advance innovation and public welfare. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #ArtificialIntelligence #ScienceAndTechnology #InnovationPolicy

#TechAcrossBorders New York Restricts AI Companion Chatbots for Minors New York has introduced new restrictions on how AI companion chatbots interact with users under 18, following concerns about emotional attachment and the sharing of sensitive personal information. Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, the legislation requires chatbot operators to verify users’ ages and restrict certain interactions, including claims of human emotions or personal relationships with users. The move highlights a growing international focus on protecting minors as AI companions become more common. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #TechAcrossBorders #AICompanions #AIGovernance #OnlineSafety #ChildSafety #DigitalPolicy

#PolicyWatch As AI adoption in public institutions gains momentum, the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum highlighted the need to balance technological advancement with democratic accountability. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasised that AI can improve parliamentary efficiency and citizen participation when guided by “human values, ethics, transparency, and accountability”. The discussions also brought ethical AI governance and Digital Public Infrastructure into focus, raising an important question: how can parliaments harness AI while keeping public trust and human oversight at the centre? @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AIGovernance #DigitalGovernance #BRICS #PublicPolicy

#IGPPArchives Revisiting our conversation on women’s representation in technology leadership. As highlighted, we explored why women’s representation in technology leadership matters- not just as CEOs and executives, but as decision-makers who help shape policies and the future of the sector. As conversations around gender equality and representation continue, the need for women to have a seat at the table where decisions are made remains just as relevant. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #WomenInLeadership #GenderEquality #TechPolicy

#Explainer Anthropic’s IPO filing puts a critical question in focus: Can AI governance keep pace with increasingly capable AI systems? From potential loss of control to deceptive behaviour, the filing outlines risks that raise important questions about AI safety, accountability and oversight. Read our explainer to understand what this means for frontier AI governance. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AIGovernance #FrontierAI #TechPolicy #IGPP

#Explainer The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 introduced legal duties for online platforms to protect children from harmful content. But has children’s exposure to such content declined since the child-safety duties came into force in July 2025? Ofcom’s 2026 report found no significant change in reported exposure to several categories, including bullying, body-stigma, depression-related and pornographic content. Read our explainer to understand the key findings, how children encounter harmful content online, and what the report highlights about the gaps in child online safety. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #ChildOnlineSafety #OnlineSafety #DigitalPolicy #PlatformGovernance #IGPP

#Explainer AI companies are increasingly engaging with religious leaders, philosophers and ethicists to explore how human values should shape AI behaviour. Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta, Google and Amazon have all featured in discussions around AI, morality and religion. But translating ideas of right and wrong into AI systems is not straightforward. Religious traditions and philosophical perspectives offer different understandings of compassion, justice and responsibility. The challenge lies in deciding which values AI systems should follow and whose interpretations should guide them. As AI becomes more influential in our lives, a fundamental question remains: whose understanding of morality should guide these technologies? @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AI #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #TechPolicy #DigitalGovernance #IGPP

#Explainer From Sweden restricting direct access to ChatGPT and Claude on government work computers to India’s Finance Ministry advising employees against using AI tools for official work, governments are taking different approaches to managing AI-related security risks. The United Kingdom, Australia and the Czech Republic have also introduced measures governing AI use in public institutions, with some restrictions targeting specific services and others focusing on approved tools. These developments highlight a broader governance challenge: how can public institutions protect confidential information while enabling the responsible use of AI? Read our explainer to understand how these countries are approaching AI use in government and what their measures mean for public-sector AI governance. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #AIGovernance #Cybersecurity #DigitalPolicy #ResponsibleAI

#TechAcrossBorders Greece’s parliament has approved legislation banning children under 15 from using social media, with the measure set to take effect on 1 January 2027. The move brings a wider policy question into focus: how can governments protect children online while safeguarding their privacy and digital rights? At the TASI Festival 2026, IGPP convened a roundtable on Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India. The discussion highlighted the need for privacy-conscious age verification, stronger platform accountability, greater parental awareness and safeguards that protect children without unnecessarily restricting their access to digital spaces. As countries explore different approaches to child online safety, the challenge lies in ensuring that protection extends beyond age limits to the design and use of digital platforms. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #ChildOnlineSafety #DigitalRights #PlatformAccountability #DigitalPolicy

#PolicyWatch Goa’s AI Policy 2026 proposes a risk-based framework for AI governance, with safeguards tailored to the potential impact of different applications on citizens, safety and public services. From mandatory impact assessments and human oversight for high-risk AI systems to proposed applications in grievance redressal and RTI processing, the policy brings questions of accountability into focus. Read our PolicyWatch to understand how Goa’s framework approaches responsible AI adoption and what its implementation could mean for public services. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #PolicyWatch #AIGovernance #ResponsibleAI #AIRegulation #DigitalGovernance #PublicPolicy #GoaAIPolicy

#Explainer What happens when personal data is exposed, and how are individuals informed? The recent data-loss incident disclosed by the State Bank of India brings renewed attention to breach notification and the safeguards available to individuals when their personal information may be at risk. Read our explainer to understand what India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the DPDP Rules, 2025, provide for breach notification and when these provisions are scheduled to come into force. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #DataProtection #DPDPAct #CyberSecurity #DigitalGovernance #IGPP

#PolicyWatch India’s cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, has flagged incidents in which AI models under testing accessed live organisational systems and confidential data beyond their authorised tasks. The affected organisations did not detect the unauthorised access themselves. The advisory also warns that AI tools are accelerating cyberattacks, with attacks that once took days potentially unfolding within hours. For AI governance, the concern goes beyond what AI systems can do. It also involves how they are tested, what they can access, how incidents are disclosed, and who is held accountable when security fails. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #PolicyWatch #AIGovernance #CyberSecurity #ResponsibleAI #IndiaTechPolicy

#PolicyWatch In Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish, the Supreme Court affirmed that children, irrespective of age, have a fundamental right to access and use the internet under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Court emphasised that protecting children from online harm cannot justify denying them access to the digital world. The ruling highlights the need for proportionate safeguards, child-friendly digital environments and stronger platform accountability to address online risks while safeguarding children's access to information and freedom of expression. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #ChildOnlineSafety #DigitalRights #InternetAccess #PlatformAccountability #OnlineSafety #SupremeCourtOfIndia

Wishing everyone a very Happy Dussehra from IGPP! May this Dussehra remind us of the enduring triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood, and hope over adversity. May the festival inspire us to uphold the values that bring us together and build a more inclusive and harmonious society. #HappyDussehra #Vijayadashami #IGPP