ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS IN INDIA: BALANCING AI EFFICIENCY WITH DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Abstract

The fast adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the administration of India is characterized by both unprecedented possibilities of administration effectiveness and great threats to democratic accountability. The present paper looks at the present situation in the area of algorithmic governance in India and discusses the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) 2025 AI Governance Guidelines and the overarching IndiaAI Mission frameworks. This research assesses the way in which India is striking a balance between the potential of AI-driven efficiency in administration and the need to preserve principles of democracy, transparency, and ethics through reviewing policy documents, government programs, and regulatory frameworks. The study shows that although India has achieved a lot in terms of the creation of AI governance systems, such as the distribution of ₹10,372 crore to the IndiaAI Mission and the creation of area-specific regulatory frameworks, there are still major gaps in the process of holding algorithms accountable and securing the rights of citizens. The main conclusions are that the Indian strategy is focused on a complex of regulatory approaches and technical means, a whole-of-government approach, but still has difficulties in the areas of algorithmic openness, mitigation of bias, and citizen involvement in AI governance. The paper comes to the conclusion that successful AI governance in India needs to focus on reinforcing democratic oversight tools, increasing citizen participation in AI policy-making, and creating effective AI accountability frameworks that maintain efficiency improvements and democratic principles.