The digital era is fundamentally reshaping how nations conceive power, security, and independence. As technology becomes deeply embedded in the structures of society, a profound question arises: who controls the digital infrastructure, data, and narratives that shape our collective existence? Around the world, competing models of digital governance are unfolding, each grounded in distinct political philosophies, ethical traditions, and institutional priorities. For policymakers, the challenge is no longer limited to regulating technology; it lies in reimagining sovereignty itself in a world defined by interconnectivity and algorithmic control.
At its core, digital sovereignty rests on a simple yet transformative idea: a nation must exercise control over how its data is stored, processed, and transmitted, while retaining authority over the technological infrastructures that sustain its digital economy. This extends to developing and managing indigenous capabilities, data centres, cloud systems, and digital public platforms that reduce strategic dependence on external actors. Yet, in practice, this vision is complicated by a global reality where data processing is transnational, manufacturing is deeply integrated into global value chains, and digital systems are inherently interdependent.
India’s growing recognition of digital sovereignty marks a deeper constitutional and strategic evolution. Since the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017) judgment, which expanded the scope of personal liberty to encompass informational privacy, sovereignty in the digital age has come to embody both state authority and individual autonomy. Thus, digital sovereignty in the Indian context is not solely about the state’s control over digital assets; it also reflects a constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ informational rights (Gupta, 2025). This dual responsibility, asserting national control while upholding personal freedoms, anchors India’s digital constitutionalism and underpins its aspiration to contribute to the shaping of global norms in digital governance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance adds a further layer of complexity. For emerging economies such as India, the regulation of AI cannot be reduced to a simple balance between innovation and risk mitigation. Instead, it must be understood as part of a broader development philosophy. India’s approach, rooted in the civilizational ethos of VasudhaivaKutumbakam and articulated through its “AI for All” mission, emphasises inclusivity, sustainability, and shared progress. Emerging during India’s G20 Presidency, the Prime Minister’s proposal for a Framework for Responsible and Human-Centric AI Governance highlighted AI’s potential to advance socio-economic development globally (Mishra, 2025). India has since positioned itself as a leading voice for the Global South, championing principles grounded in democracy, judicial oversight, and public participation (Unnikrishnan, 2025).
Building on the momentum of its G20 Presidency, India has advanced several multilateral initiatives such as the One Future Alliance (OFA) and the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, alongside instruments like the Social Impact Fund to support scalable capacity-building and AI governance in the Global South. These efforts demonstrate how open access to technical expertise, interoperable standards, and open APIs can bridge critical infrastructure gaps across regions such as Africa and ASEAN (Mishra, 2025). Collectively, these initiatives reinforce India’s leadership in shaping global digital norms, articulating a distinctive “third way” in digital governance, one that promotes South–South collaboration and digital self-determination (Unnikrishnan, 2025).
The constitutional and statutory dimensions of India’s AI governance reflect a carefully balanced framework, one that recognises the transformative potential of digital technologies while ensuring democratic oversight, protection of rights, and preservation of strategic autonomy. This vision was reaffirmed in the July 2025 BRICS Statement on Global AI Governance, which reiterated India’s commitment to transparency, accountability, multi-stakeholder participation, and rights-based regulation. The statement reiterated India’s intent to work with fellow BRICS nations to advance inclusive AI governance and digital sovereignty across the Global South (Mishra, 2025).
In essence, India’s articulation of digital sovereignty and AI governance represents a sophisticated synthesis of constitutionalism, strategic autonomy, and global leadership. Positioned at the intersection of democratic governance and technological innovation, India is crafting a normative framework that redefines sovereignty for the digital age, anchored in rights, resilience, and responsibility. Through its advocacy of an open, inclusive, and human-centric model, India not only safeguards its digital future but also offers a compelling alternative paradigm for the developing world. As global debates on AI regulation and digital infrastructure intensify, India’s balanced approach, grounded in transparency, interoperability, and ethical stewardship, positions it as a pivotal actor in shaping the emerging architecture of global digital governance.
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