IndiaAI: Meity invites proposals from startups, academia to advance ethical, secure AI systems

Responsible and ethical AI is one of the seven key pillars of the Rs 10,738 crore IndiaAI Mission

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), as part of its IndiaAI mission, has issued a call for proposals for ‘Safe and Trusted AI’ to advance ethical and secure adoption of artificial intelligence in India.

Under the initiative, MeitY has invited organisations, startups, and academic institutions to develop practical solutions across key themes, including watermarking AI-generated content, ethical AI frameworks, risk assessment tools, stress-testing methodologies, and deepfake detection systems.

This comes at a time when the applications of AI-generated deepfakes, in the forms of images, videos and audio, have played a part in spreading misinformation that has often caused harm to the user.

For the deepfake-detecting tool, MeitY wants a solution that can be integrated into browsers and social media platforms for cross-platform content verification.

"The tool may employ sophisticated Deep Learning Algorithms, incorporate provenance-based techniques, inference-based techniques, and other detection techniques that verify and analyse the authenticity of media for artefacts and inconsistencies, indicating the likelihood of manipulation," a guideline document for prospective applicants said on December 14.

"Seamless integration of these detection tools into web browsers and social media platforms could enable automated cross-modal content verification, providing real-time deepfake detection, enhancing security and ensuring the integrity of digital information ecosystem," the document said.

The proposed watermarking and labelling tools can also be used to differentiate between AI-generated content such as deepfakes and user-generated content. "The proposed tools may utilise advanced algorithms to differentiate AI-generated content from non-AI generated content, and embed unique, imperceptible markers in AI-generated content to ensure traceability and security," it added.

The ministry also wants ethical AI framework solutions that uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability and avoid perpetuating bias or discrimination. "These frameworks encourage developers, researchers and organisations to consider the broader societal implications of their AI solutions and make informed decisions to minimise the potential harm."

A multidisciplinary committee of experts will select applicants for the ‘Safe and Trusted AI’ mission through a multi-step evaluation process.

Submitted proposals will be assessed on criteria such as alignment with the mission’s objectives, innovation, technical feasibility, data relevance, and collaborative potential.

The ministry said that projects must demonstrate a clear impact on ethical and secure AI development, propose practical and scalable solutions, and outline a realistic budget and timeline. The deadline is set for January 10, 2025.