India’s AI ambition risks outrunning its readiness
India has been clear about not just participating in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution but also shaping it. The AI Impact Summit earlier this year was evidence of this.
But, two global indices released within weeks of the summit, taken together, offer a more sobering reality check. The Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025 ranks India 27th globally, reflecting middling performance on governance, regulatory quality, and public-sector capability. In contrast, the 2025 Stanford University Global AI Vibrancy Index places India among the world’s top three AI ecosystems, citing strengths in talent, research output, digital infrastructure, and startup dynamism.
