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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Regulation

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

AI is a transformative technology with profound implications for economy, society, governance, and national security. UPSC expects candidates to understand its potential, challenges, and the policy responses required for its responsible development and deployment, including ethical considerations and regulatory oversight.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans. Its rapid advancement necessitates robust governance and regulatory frameworks to ensure ethical deployment, mitigate risks, and protect stakeholders across various sectors.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Core Focus

Ensuring ethical, transparent, and explainable adoption of AI tools and models.

Risk Mitigation

Addressing data protection, cyber security risks (e.g., automated attacks), and potential challenges to policyholders.

Regulatory Scope

Reviewing global regulatory and supervisory approaches and suggesting sector-specific frameworks (e.g., for insurance).

Accountability

Prescribing frameworks for implementing security controls, conducting stress tests, and establishing AI audit requirements (pre-deployment and post-deployment).

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEmerging Information Technologies

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
IRDAIInitiates regulatory framework for insurance sector
CERT-InProvides cybersecurity expertise
Reserve Bank Information Technology (ReBIT)Provides financial technology expertise
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • Focus on ethical, transparent, and explainable AI.
  • Mitigation of data protection and cybersecurity risks.
  • Review of global regulatory approaches for AI.
  • Development of pre-deployment and post-deployment AI audit frameworks.
  • Identification of skill gaps and capacity-building needs.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi : 1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three f...

Science & TechnologyOpen question

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ? 1. LLMs assign probabilities to the ...

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2026Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi : 1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three f...

Science & TechnologyOpen question

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ? 1. LLMs assign probabilities to the ...

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2025Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025: I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : 1. Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. 2. In Web 3-0 world, there ca...

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2020Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence an effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial ...

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2019Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolut...

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2018Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India? 1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did...

Social Issues & SchemesOpen question
2017Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cybersecurity incidents? 1. Service providers 2. Data centres 3. Body corporate...

Science & TechnologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Emerging Information Technologies
Prelims 2017· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cybersecurity incidents? 1. Service providers 2. Data centres 3. Body corporate...

Open question
Prelims 2018· Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures

Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India? 1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolut...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence an effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial ...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : 1. Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. 2. In Web 3-0 world, there ca...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025: I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi : 1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three f...

Open question

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ? 1. LLMs assign probabilities to the ...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi : 1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three f...

Open question

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ? 1. LLMs assign probabilities to the ...

Open question

IRDAI forms working group on AI

19 Jun 2026 · AI governance involves establishing rules, standards, and best practices for the ethical, transparent, and secure development and deployment of AI systems, addressing issues like data privacy, bias, accountability, and cybersecurity risks across various sectors.

Read article

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