SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | MARCH 2026
Exam Relevance
Prelims: AI Summit series (Bletchley-Seoul-Paris-Delhi), New Delhi Declaration, MANAV vision, Pax Silica members
Mains: GS-III (Science & Technology — AI Governance), GS-II (International Relations)
Judicial Services Relevance: AI regulation and data sovereignty; ethical AI frameworks; intellectual property in AI-generated content; privacy implications of AI (Art. 21 right to privacy per Puttaswamy); global tech governance and India’s role
Prelims: AI Summit series (Bletchley-Seoul-Paris-Delhi), New Delhi Declaration, MANAV vision, Pax Silica members
Mains: GS-III (Science & Technology — AI Governance), GS-II (International Relations)
Judicial Services Relevance: AI regulation and data sovereignty; ethical AI frameworks; intellectual property in AI-generated content; privacy implications of AI (Art. 21 right to privacy per Puttaswamy); global tech governance and India’s role
India AI Impact Summit 2026 — Overview
Key Facts
• Dates: February 16-20, 2026
• Venue: New Delhi
• 4th edition in global AI summit series:
1st: Bletchley Park, UK (Nov 2023)
2nd: Seoul (May 2024)
3rd: Paris (Feb 2025)
4th: New Delhi (Feb 2026)
• New Delhi Declaration: Signed by 88 countries + international organisations
• Centred on: 7 Chakras (pillars) of AI Impact
• Core focus: “Democratising AI” while respecting sovereignty
• Dates: February 16-20, 2026
• Venue: New Delhi
• 4th edition in global AI summit series:
1st: Bletchley Park, UK (Nov 2023)
2nd: Seoul (May 2024)
3rd: Paris (Feb 2025)
4th: New Delhi (Feb 2026)
• New Delhi Declaration: Signed by 88 countries + international organisations
• Centred on: 7 Chakras (pillars) of AI Impact
• Core focus: “Democratising AI” while respecting sovereignty
PM Modi’s MANAV Vision
MANAV — India’s Ethical AI Framework:
M — Moral and ethical systems: AI should be based on ethical guidance
A — Accountable governance: transparent rules, robust oversight
N — National sovereignty: whose data, his right
A — Accessible and inclusive: AI should be a multiplier, not a monopoly
V — Valid and legitimate: AI should be lawful and verifiable
M — Moral and ethical systems: AI should be based on ethical guidance
A — Accountable governance: transparent rules, robust oversight
N — National sovereignty: whose data, his right
A — Accessible and inclusive: AI should be a multiplier, not a monopoly
V — Valid and legitimate: AI should be lawful and verifiable
Three Key Suggestions by PM Modi
- Global trusted data framework that respects data sovereignty
- No monopolies in AI — ensure equitable access
- Open-source innovation to democratise AI development
Pax Silica Declaration
Pax Silica is a US-led initiative to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals, AI, and tech supply chains.
Pax Silica Members:
USA, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, Qatar, Greece, UK, Israel, UAE, Australia, India
USA, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, Qatar, Greece, UK, Israel, UAE, Australia, India
Focus: Securing supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI infrastructure away from Chinese dominance
Key Partnerships & Initiatives
- Qualcomm-ANRF Partnership: Rs 90 crore over 5 years for AI and wireless technology R&D
- Adobe Content Creator Labs: Free access to 15,000 secondary schools for AVGC training
- Vachana STT by Gnani.ai: Indic speech recognition under Inya VoiceOS platform — supporting multilingual AI
- Google India-America Connect Initiative: Subsea cable infrastructure for digital connectivity
New Delhi Declaration — 7 Chakras
The New Delhi Declaration signed by 88 countries (including US, China, France, Australia, UK) is centred on the 7 Chakras (pillars) of the AI Impact Summit. India maintained the focus on “democratising AI” while respecting sovereignty of nations — a position that balances the Global South’s concerns with technological advancement.
Want structured Judiciary exam preparation? Try our free 5-day Bodh Demo Course with live classes and expert guidance. Start Free →
Judicial Services Angle
• Data sovereignty: MANAV’s “N” pillar directly connects to the Puttaswamy judgment (2017) and right to privacy under Art. 21
• AI regulation: India’s “coordination first, binding policy last” approach (from Economic Survey) is relevant to judicial understanding of tech regulation
• IP in AI: Who owns AI-generated content? Emerging area of IP law with judicial implications
• Pax Silica: Geopolitical tech alliances affect trade law and international agreements
• Data sovereignty: MANAV’s “N” pillar directly connects to the Puttaswamy judgment (2017) and right to privacy under Art. 21
• AI regulation: India’s “coordination first, binding policy last” approach (from Economic Survey) is relevant to judicial understanding of tech regulation
• IP in AI: Who owns AI-generated content? Emerging area of IP law with judicial implications
• Pax Silica: Geopolitical tech alliances affect trade law and international agreements
Source: UPSC Essentials, The Indian Express — March 2026
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding with these 10 MCQs:
Practice Quiz — 10 Judiciary Exam-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.