AI For Good Governance

At a time when Viksit Bharat@2047 is an agenda of national priority, both for the people and the government, it is absolutely important that all stakeholders including people of all ages and those in government are drawn towards the making of a new India, the Bharat of our dreams. While education, technology innovations and sustained focus on economic growth continues to drive the march of the nation towards the goal of Viksit Bharat, the role of the government and those in government service at various levels of the hierarchy is absolutely important in ensuring that the resolve of the making of a new India is unconditionally matched by our major thrust on good governance.

Integration of AI in governance at all levels and in all sectors of economy can play a highly impactful role in providing good governance to a populous nation of 1.44 billion people. It is also becoming increasingly clear that governance is not just about power or authority or even enacting the laws and rolling out policies and freebies, it is about governance with empathy, aatmiyata, integrity and unconditional commitment to serve and excel. This necessitates utmost fairness in providing the service to the people and total transparency in delivering the service with delight and with integrity.

Good Governance Requires more than Human Efforts

If there has been any major shortcoming in making the democracy work for the people in India, it is the lack of good governance at various levels of administration from the level of panchayats in the villages to the municipalities and nagar nigams, to the offices of district administration as well as the offices of state and central government. While, a nation of 1.44 billion people, that India is, has to take immense pride in its democratic system of governance that it has cherished from the days of foundation of its age old civilization that proclaimed long ago “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina, Sarve Santu Niramaya, Sarve Bhadhrani Pashyanti, maa Kashchit Dukh Bha Bhavet” as the charter for those occupying the seats of power and chairs of authority. This coupled with ‘Satyamev Jayate Naamratam’ and ‘Prija hitam hi Raagya hitam’ provide a rock-solid foundation for the practice of good governance.

However, it is also true that a large size system having diversity of regions, religions and multiplicity of languages, requires more than human effort to provide governance with integrity, empathy, and with utmost fairness and transparency. It is here that the use of AI in governance provides a major thrust to meet the monumental challenge of planning as well as execution of policies and programs in a nation with high diversity and disparity.

Good Governance in an AI-Powered World

Good governance is all about data driven decision making, optimal utilisation of resources, efficiency, transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and public satisfaction. AI powered systems offer innovative solutions to aid and assist those in power and in the field to not only make policies and programs but also ensure their effective implementation with integrity and transparency.

Calls for Action for AI driven good governance

1. India is in a position of great advantage as it has taken a timely decision to usher digitization at all levels of governance, corporate and businesses that resulted into ease of doing business and for providing government services at doorsteps of the people. As such integration of AI in governance for a nation like India is a great opportunity to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its service delivery. This besides making the large size government machinery to work at its highest potential shall ensure that a total transparency is maintained and the democracy is made to work as the government for the people.
2. It is also important for a nation like India to now on work with a singular objective of minimizing the use of natural resources by constantly focusing on resource optimization and effective management of the waste if any. AI powered system could help in a big way to achieve this objective.
3. Much of the dissatisfaction in India in public eyes germinates from the neglect of routine maintenance and upkeep of the civic infrastructure. AI powered systems of governance of the local authorities can help initiate timely warnings and prompt actions to mitigate this avoidable dissatisfaction. This will make the local authorities both responsible and accountable to provide civic services as mandated in their work charter.
4. The potholes in the highways and expressways, that were commissioned few years ago would be taken note of and the authorities would be able to ensure that those collecting the toll are made to maintain the roads and highways in upright conditions. the same will be case for the traffic police to manage the traffic flow and ensure effective implementation of traffic rules. The public at large shall also become responsible citizens under the eyes of the AI powered systems of administration and governance.
5. Much of the hue and cry in urban areas including in the mega cities is primarily due to ill effects of unban planning that ignored the existence of rural pockets inside the urban areas and also lacked planning for future. AI can improve urban planning manifold due to its inbuilt intelligence to foresee the current as well as the future requirements and inbuilt right from the planning to execution, both the efficacy as well as effectiveness of urban planning.
6. In fact, AI can significantly impact the way governance is administered in all sectors of the economy including education, healthcare, financial management and controlling air and water pollution most effectively as AI powered systems provide both the ease as well as efficiency together with transparency and accountability.

The Path Forward: A Call for Responsible AI Governance

Harnessing AI for good governance requires more than just technical expertise; it demands wisdom, foresight, and a steadfast commitment to democratic values. The way forward must be built on a framework of responsible AI Governance that creates both the responsible citizenship as well as accountable governance. It goes without saying that robust framework of cyber laws and their effective enforcement would be as important as the integration of AI in Governance for good governance and service efficacy. It would thus be absolutely essential to ensure that the people at large understand the meaning and purpose of responsible use of AI and its benefits for increased public satisfaction and trust in government services.  India’s national mission of Viksit Bharat cannot afford to miss this great opportunity to make the democracy work effectively as the ‘government for the people’, now that we are cruising as the fastest growing economies of the world.

About the Authors: Prof PB Sharma is the Past President of AIU, founder Vice Chancellor of DTU, former Professor of IIT Delhi and currently Vice Chancellor of Amity University Gurugram and Aadeesh Sharma is an AI Whiz moving to pursue his master’s in AI & ML in one of the most reputed institution in the world.