India is positioning itself as a significant third force in the global artificial intelligence race, seeking to stand alongside the United States and China while championing a model that pairs technological innovation with democratic access and broader participation, according to a report by Pressenza. The analysis, released ahead of 24 June 2026, outlines how India is rapidly shifting from a consumer of AI technologies to an active producer and governance participant on the world stage.

From Consumer to Producer: India's Strategic Shift

According to the report, India is increasingly treating artificial intelligence not merely as a development tool but as a driver of productivity, industrial competitiveness, export growth, and technological leadership. The country is now aiming to build advanced AI systems domestically, develop its own digital infrastructure, and shape the rules of global AI governance — a significant departure from its earlier posture as a technology importer.

Central to this ambition is the India AI Mission, backed by an outlay of over ₹10,300 crore. The programme targets stronger computing infrastructure, expanded research capabilities, startup support, high-quality dataset development, and a robust talent pipeline.

Semiconductor Push and Digital Infrastructure Advantage

India is also investing heavily in chip-making through the India Semiconductor Mission, with a focus on chip design, assembly, testing, packaging, and manufacturing — moves aimed at reducing dependence on volatile global supply chains. Analysts have noted that semiconductor self-sufficiency is increasingly viewed as a national security priority, not merely an industrial one.

The report highlights India's extensive digital public infrastructure — including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and CoWIN — as a structural advantage in scaling AI adoption at a pace few other nations can match. Initiatives such as AI Kosha are further helping build trusted, domestically curated datasets for researchers, universities, and businesses, reducing reliance on foreign data ecosystems.

Global Influence: The New Delhi Declaration

India's growing international standing in AI governance was underscored at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where 91 countries and international organisations adopted the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration signals that India's preferred framework — balancing innovation, inclusion, strategic autonomy, and democratic access — is gaining traction well beyond its borders.

This comes amid intensifying competition between the US and China over AI dominance, with both nations investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the sector. India's pitch, notably, is positioned as an alternative model rather than a direct technological rival to either power.

India as a Bridge for the Global South

The Pressenza report argues that India is carving out a distinct role as a bridge between advanced economies and the Global South, advocating an AI governance framework that prioritises inclusion and democratic participation alongside raw capability. This framing gives India diplomatic leverage in multilateral forums where developing nations are wary of AI frameworks shaped exclusively by Washington or Beijing.

Notably, the breadth of the New Delhi Declaration's signatories — spanning 91 countries — suggests India's inclusive AI narrative is resonating with a wide coalition, even as questions remain about implementation timelines and the pace of domestic capability-building. How quickly India can translate its policy ambitions into verifiable technological outputs will determine whether its 'third force' positioning holds beyond the diplomatic arena.