National artificial intelligence unit stuck for lack of anchor department

Current Affairs

The government’s plan to set up a national artificial intelligence centre is stuck because it is unclear which department will spearhead the initiative.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said in January such a centre would be set up by July.
The then finance minister, Piyush Goyal, announced in February the centre would be developed as a hub along with centres of excellence, for which nine priority areas had been identified. However, he did not mention who would execute the larger plan.
Last month, it was reported that the NITI Aayog had circulated a Cabinet note, asking for Rs 7,500 crore for three years to set up an AI framework. Last year, four panels set up by MeitY evaluated the use of AI for citizens, such as setting up a data platform, skilling and reskilling, research and development, and examining the challenges involving legal, regulatory, ethical and cybersecurity aspects.
“Based on what the four committees gave us, we sent a proposal to implement a national programme at Rs 470-480 crore. For approval it went to expenditure (finance committee), which asked us about the difference between NITI Aayog and our estimate. We have requested them to resolve this,” said a senior official at MeitY.
The NITI Aayog released a discussion paper in June last year on the “National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence”.

 MeitY’s reports have not been made public. A senior finance ministry official who was part of the Expenditure Finance Committee meetings related to the requests made by the NITI Aayog and MeitY on the AI centre said both the departments had been told to get clarity on the matter.