Building AI policy that works for Bharat
Bharat AI Foundation is an independent think tank that researches how artificial intelligence should be governed, adopted, and taught across India's public institutions.
Twenty-four spokes, one centre. Ideas travel outward to every state and office.
India is deploying AI in courts, hospitals, farms, tax offices, and classrooms. The decisions being made now will shape how 1.4 billion people experience the technology for decades. We work with ministries, state governments, public sector undertakings, legislators, and students to make those decisions better informed. Our work rests on three activities: we publish research, we convene people who disagree, and we train the officials who will put policy into practice.
Research
Long-form essays and policy analysis on AI regulation, public sector adoption, data governance, and India's Digital Public Infrastructure.
Read our researchTraining
Structured programmes for central and state government employees and PSU officers, built around the work they actually do.
See programmesDialogue
Closed-door roundtables and public forums where officials, researchers, industry, and civil society work through hard questions together.
Explore the DialoguesFrom the Essay Series
All essaysShould India regulate AI by sector or through a single law?
x min readPublic administrationWhat a district office needs before it can use AI well
x min readDPIBuilding AI on Digital Public Infrastructure: promise and risk
x min readLanguageWhy Indian language AI is a governance problem, not only a technical one
x min readProcurementProcurement rules and the AI projects they quietly kill
x min readFive fellowships, one purpose
Time, mentorship, and a network for people working seriously on AI and public policy in India.
Bharat AI Policy Fellowship
For mid-career professionals shaping national AI policy.
FlagshipRajya (State) AI Governance Fellowship
Placements with state governments building AI capacity.
DPI + AI Fellowship
Building AI on India's Digital Public Infrastructure, safely.
Yuva AI Policy Fellowship
For students starting a career in technology policy.
AI Literacy Fellowship for Officials and Legislators
Non-partisan grounding for MPs, MLAs, and senior officials.
The Bharat AI Challenge
Real problem statements from government departments and PSUs that are willing to test promising ideas.
Problems released
Partner institutions share challenges and any data they can make available.
Teams register
Teams submit a short concept note.
Shortlisting
A jury selects teams to build prototypes, with mentoring.
Final demonstration
Finalists present to officials, researchers, and industry.
Pilot opportunity
Winners may pilot with the partner institution.
Independent research needs independent funding
Your support keeps our research free to read, trains officials in states with limited resources, and brings fresh voices into AI policy.