AI’s next test — reaching India’s informal women worker
The article emphasizes the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in achieving inclusive growth for India by 2047, particularly by empowering women in the informal sector. It highlights that while AI offers significant productivity gains across various sectors, its design and implementation must be gender-responsive to prevent amplifying existing inequalities. The author proposes three key governance priorities: conducting gender impact assessments for AI systems, establishing AI literacy as public infrastructure by integrating it into existing welfare schemes (like DAY-NRLM, DDU-GKY, Skill India, Mission Shakti), and ensuring digital safety for women to encourage their full participation in digital economic spaces. The article concludes that the true measure of India's AI success by 2047 will be the meaningful and productive access AI provides to women in informal work.
The article emphasizes the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in achieving inclusive growth for India by 2047, particularly by empowering women in the informal sector. It highlights that while AI offers significant productivity gains across various sectors, its design and implementation must be gender-responsive to prevent amplifying existing inequalities. The author proposes three key governance priorities: conducting gender impact assessments for AI systems, establishing AI literacy as public infrastructure by integrating it into existing welfare schemes (like DAY-NRLM, DDU-GKY, Skill India, Mission Shakti), and ensuring digital safety for women to encourage their full participation in digital economic spaces. The article concludes that the true measure of India's AI success by 2047 will be the meaningful and productive access AI provides to women in informal work.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 2: Governance, Social Justice (Welfare schemes, vulnerable sections, government policies and interventions). GS Paper 3: Science and Technology (Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life), Indian Economy (Inclusive growth, employment, informal sector).
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Social Justice & Development come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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