Modi-Trump Techplomacy
The AI4India Weekly #36
This week, we spotlight the growing US-India collaboration in the field of technology, with a particular focus on AI. As both nations strengthen their democratic values through technological innovation, Prime Minister Modi's launch of Mission Mausam is an exemplary initiative that leverages AI to enhance weather forecasting and resilience. Meanwhile, India continues to address global challenges, including AI chip export curbs with the upcoming Trump administration. These developments, along with initiatives like AI-driven crowd safety and fashion trend forecasting, underscore India's leadership in shaping the future of AI for public good, industry, and global collaboration.
Strengthening Global Democracy: US-India Tech Cooperation
By Shashi Shekhar Vempati
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term and President-elect Donald Trump preparing for his second, the potential for US-India collaboration to fortify global democracy is unparalleled. Both nations share a commitment to freedom and democracy, making technological cooperation a powerful tool to address shared challenges such as misinformation, cyber threats, and erosion of media integrity. Under Modi’s leadership, India has demonstrated how digital initiatives like Digital India and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) can democratize governance and strengthen public trust.
India’s pioneering Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting technology, powered by the ATSC 3.0 standard, exemplifies the potential of such collaboration. By delivering real-time content without internet dependence, D2M offers a critical solution for regions with limited connectivity and can counter disinformation while ensuring access to vital information during crises. These technologies also promise advancements in emergency management, rural education, and AI-driven communication, aligning with the shared goals of India and the US to secure democracy against emerging threats.
Together, India and the US can lead global efforts to combat digital authoritarianism, enhance media resilience, and bridge the digital divide. By combining India’s expertise in digital public goods with America’s frontier innovations, the two nations can set global benchmarks for ethical, inclusive, and secure technological ecosystems. This partnership not only strengthens their democratic foundations but also inspires the world to embrace technology as a force for democracy and freedom in the 21st century.
India to Address AI Chip Export Curbs with Trump Administration
India plans to raise its concerns about the AI chip export restrictions imposed by the Biden administration with the incoming Trump government. The curbs, which set country-specific caps on the export of AI compute and foundational models, have sparked apprehension within India’s technology sector. According to a senior official, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has already held initial discussions with key government stakeholders, including the office of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to assess the potential long-term implications of these restrictions.
While the curbs are not expected to pose an immediate crisis, officials believe they could hinder India's ambitions in the AI and tech innovation space over time. The government intends to address the issue within the framework of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). This platform has been instrumental in fostering collaboration on advanced technologies and could serve as a constructive avenue for mitigating trade barriers.
PM Modi Launches Mission Mausam: AI-Powered Weather Forecasting for a Resilient India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Mission Mausam, a transformative five-year initiative that leverages AI, machine learning, and supercomputing to revolutionize India’s weather forecasting. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, the mission aims to deliver hyper-local, high-accuracy predictions tailored to India's diverse regions and climates.
Central to the mission is the deployment of over 70 Doppler radars, advanced satellites, high-performance computers, and AI-driven models. These tools will enhance short- to medium-term forecasts, improve monsoon predictions, and provide actionable insights for critical sectors like agriculture, disaster management, and healthcare. The initiative also focuses on AI-enhanced nowcasting to predict severe weather events, such as lightning and cloudbursts, with unprecedented precision.
In its first phase (until March 2026), Mission Mausam will expand the observational network and establish unique facilities like a "cloud chamber" at the Indian Institute of Meteorology in Pune. This chamber, coupled with AI tools, will allow scientists to study cloud formation and explore rain enhancement techniques like cloud seeding. The integration of AI-powered systems will also enable ultra-localized forecasts at the panchayat level, with lead times of 10–15 days, and air quality predictions in major metros, enhanced by up to 10%.
WEF and MeitY Join Hands for ‘AI for India 2030’
The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), has launched the ‘AI for India 2030’ initiative. Announced at the WEF Annual Meeting 2025, this partnership aims to develop a multistakeholder ecosystem leveraging AI and other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to address critical challenges in health, education, agriculture, and smart cities. Over six years, C4IR India has transformed lives through AI-driven agricultural solutions, improved healthcare access, and sustainable urban development frameworks, directly benefiting 1.25 million citizens.
As part of its next phase, C4IR India is targeting 10 million citizens by focusing on advanced initiatives like climate-smart urban centers, aerial mobility under AVIATE India, and establishing India as a leader in space technologies through the Space Economy initiative. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan emphasized the potential of public-private collaboration in realizing AI’s transformative power, stating, “AI for India 2030 will empower startups, industry, and government to harness AI for societal progress.” This initiative cements India’s growing role as a hub for digital innovation and sustainable technological development.
In the News
Election Commission of India Embraces AI Ethics in Campaigning
The Election Commission of India has issued a new advisory focused on the ethical use of AI in political campaigning, emphasizing the need to label AI-generated content clearly. This initiative aims to foster transparency and trust in India's election processes. Read moreIndia Uses AI to Prevent Stampedes at World's Largest Gathering
AI technology is being utilized to monitor crowd behavior and predict potential stampedes at India’s Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. This AI application helps ensure public safety by predicting crowd movements and preventing dangerous incidents. Read moreIIT Kanpur Partners with Global Markets Firm to Launch Advanced AI and Computing Lab
IIT Kanpur has partnered with a global markets firm to establish an advanced AI and computing lab, aimed at enhancing research in AI, machine learning, and computational techniques. This collaboration will bolster India’s position as a leader in AI-driven innovation. Read moreSatyarthi Advocates for Compassionate Intelligence to Counter AI Risks
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has called for the development of "compassionate intelligence" to balance AI’s benefits with its ethical challenges. He emphasized the need for human-centered AI to mitigate potential risks posed by unchecked technological growth. Read more
#DataDaan - Donate for a Digital India
Aligned with the IndiaAI mission and the efforts from MeitY to ensure the availability of AI-usable data across govt, the #DataDaan campaign by AI4India.org is inviting participation from individuals and organizations to contribute valuable data for AI development in India. This initiative aims to gather diverse datasets to enrich the national data repository, supporting innovation across various sectors. We encourage everyone to read the detailed white paper on the campaign - https://bit.ly/DataDaan and fill out the form - http://bit.ly/3XfxD3H to contribute to this transformative effort.
NOTE: The views expressed by the authors are their own. AI4India as a forum does not endorse any comments on specific brands, products, platforms or companies.
Join our AI4India.org forum to be a part of the AI revolution in India by visiting our site now.
Follow us on our X and LinkedIn to receive interesting updates and analysis of AI-related news