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In earlier articles, we discovered India’s route through the construction blocks of military AI: from institutional structure, moral and strategic imperatives and comparative global perspectives. This article further sees how India can strengthen its domestic structures, effectively borrow from global best practices, and can emerge as an ideal leader for the global South.
India has already started preparing a framework for the responsible military AI. In 2024, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) introduced the ETAI framework (evaluation of reliableness in AI) in an attempt to ensure that the country’s use of the country in the war is not only the sophisticated, but also a royal. ETAI is built on five fundamental columns: reliability, security, transparency, fairness and privacy. Although these principles may appear abstract, their purpose is clear, which is to ensure that military personnel, decision-makers and the public may believe in the technology deployed on their behalf.
To strengthen the ETAI structure, India created new decision -making bodies such as Defense AI Council (DAIC) and Defense AI Project Agency (DIPA). These were established to guide the projects, coordinate research and give direction to an area of technology that is moving at a breakcone speed. The institutional design reflects the purpose and clarity of the intention. But till now, these are body convenor, not Enforcers. They bring stakeholders together but cannot force compliance. The difference should now be closed by India, one is one between theory and behavior.
India may take valuable signals from the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The AI principles responsible for the DOD -responsibility, equity, traceability, reliability and governance are translated into clear operating practices. The oversite rests with the main digital and AI office, which ensures that accountability is run through the range of commands. Ethical principles are supported by impact assessment and reliable evaluation, producing systems that are not only tested, but are reliable.
Faith, in this context, comes more than rigorous testing only. It depends on the governance structures that can be trusted and a task force that is properly trained and educated. By investing in more and more people as technology, DOD has made AI something that his workers can understand, can work with, and trust – not to fear a black box.
The US model shows how to overcome the last mile problem of morality: converting values into practice. For India, this is an important step. Compulsory of traceability in each deployed system, making human overrides a non-parasical, and most importantly-a statutory defense AI regulatory authority, creating a statutory defense AI regulatory authority with powers with the authorities, and will give substances to the moral structure already discussed to implement compliance. Without enforcement, India risks strong ideas but weak execution.
The way the further ambition coincides with improvement. An independent right with regulator teeth can ensure that moral safety measures are not just a discussion points. Its mandate should include certification, investigation and enforcement. Drawing on global best practices, all defense AI procurement should be mandatory for moral and risk-effect assessment. At the same time, India should invest in infrastructure for stress-scoring AIs: Airawat initiative-providing cloud power and dataset for AIRWAT AII-can be adapted to a rescue-specific platform to test the AI system under pressure and extreme conditions. Like there is important human ability. India needs to train its defense and technical workforce to use AI, combining technical skills with moral awareness and using a technical workforce. Only then AI can become a reliable partner in national security.
Domestic reform is only part of the story. India has a big opportunity: to lead globally, especially for the global South. Many developing countries want AI in defense but there is a lack of resources to design governance from scratches. They need a template that combines innovation with restraint. India is well placed to provide it. Shareing structures like ETAI, offering training programs, and expanding advisory support can make India a partner of choice. Initiatives such as Defense India Startup Challenge (DISC) already nurture technologies that can be adapted for international cooperation. On forums such as UN GGE, G20 and BRICS, India can push for inclusive governance that not only reflects Western concerns, but also shows the realities of the resources. This means advocating AI benefits, viable accountable standards and equal access to human control as a universal principle.
This article is written by Zain Pandit, partner and Asha Nahar, Associate, JSA advocates and Solicitor.
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