A parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called for a comprehensive national technology strategy and the establishment of a formal inter-ministerial coordination mechanism, expressing concern that India's approach to integrating emerging technologies with foreign policy remains fragmented and lacks a clearly articulated long-term vision.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, in its 17th report, recommended that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) work with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and other departments to prepare a publicly accessible technology vision and strategy document outlining India's priorities, objectives and institutional responsibilities.
The report, adopted on September 22 and presented to the Lok Sabha Speaker on September 25, observed that despite India's achievements in several technological fields, the country lacked a single comprehensive policy document connecting technological capabilities with its diplomatic and strategic objectives.
The committee described the existing approach as fragmented and piecemeal, cautioning that individual technological successes could not substitute for a coherent national strategy.
National technology vision
The panel recommended that the proposed strategy be prepared through consultations with academic institutions, research organisations, industry representatives and relevant government departments.
It said the document should clearly identify India's technological priorities, establish measurable objectives and define the responsibilities of different ministries involved in implementing the strategy.
The committee also proposed a separate technology diplomacy strategy specifically for the MEA, recognising the increasing importance of technological cooperation, digital governance, emerging technologies and international standards in contemporary foreign relations.
Both documents should be made public and reviewed periodically to ensure that they remain relevant amid rapid technological changes, the panel recommended.
Coordination mechanism proposed
The committee called for the establishment of a formal inter-ministerial body on technology diplomacy, chaired by the MEA and comprising representatives from ministries responsible for information technology, science, space and commerce.
It observed that technological issues increasingly cut across traditional administrative boundaries, requiring sustained coordination rather than consultations conducted separately whenever specific problems arise.
Such a mechanism would help align domestic technological priorities with India's international engagements, including negotiations on emerging technologies, research partnerships and cooperation on digital infrastructure.
The proposed body would also provide an institutional framework for coordinating India's positions on technological developments that carry economic, diplomatic and strategic implications.
AI strategy needs revision
The panel recommended updating India's national artificial intelligence strategy, noting that the existing framework prepared by NITI Aayog predates the emergence of large language models and recent advances in generative AI.
It asked NITI Aayog and MeitY to undertake the revision in consultation with the MEA so that international developments and India's diplomatic priorities are adequately reflected.
The committee acknowledged India's growing capabilities in artificial intelligence but identified significant shortcomings in computing infrastructure, data centre capacity, access to advanced semiconductor chips and private investment in large AI models.
India has moved from seventh to third position globally in Stanford University's Global AI Vibrancy Tool, which compares national artificial intelligence ecosystems.
However, the panel cautioned that India's technological capabilities continued to lag substantially behind those of the United States and China, particularly in advanced computing infrastructure and frontier AI development.
The recommendations come as MeitY prepares to release a consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulation, focusing on safety, inclusivity, skill development and measures to mitigate potential harm.
Data centre claims questioned
The committee also questioned frequently cited estimates suggesting that India generates or holds approximately 20 per cent of global data while accounting for only three per cent of the world's data centre capacity.
It noted that MeitY had informed the panel that neither figure had been officially verified, raising concerns about the reliability of data being used to guide policy discussions and investment decisions.
According to industry estimates cited in the report, India's data centre capacity could need to expand from approximately 1.5 gigawatts in 2025 to between five and 10 gigawatts by 2030.
The committee recommended that the MEA coordinate with MeitY and other ministries to collect, verify and publish reliable statistics on India's data generation and processing infrastructure.
It said accurate information was essential for attracting international investment, negotiating technology partnerships and assessing the country's infrastructure requirements.
The recommendations underline the committee's broader concern that India's technological ambitions require stronger institutional coordination, reliable evidence and a clear strategic framework connecting domestic innovation with international diplomacy.