Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 21: Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, on Friday asserted that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming systems across sectors, it can never replace human integrity.
Addressing the “AI Impact Summit 2026 India,” he said, “Artificial Intelligence can substitute everything on this planet, but it cannot substitute integrity,” underlining the need for a human-centric approach in deploying advanced technologies.
Invoking the mantra “MANAV,” articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent address, Dr Singh stressed that technological transformation must remain rooted in ethical values and public trust. He emphasised that while AI enhances efficiency and widens access, it cannot replace moral responsibility and human judgement.
In his keynote address, Dr Singh said that institutions must continuously upgrade themselves to stay relevant in an era of rapid technological transition. “Artificial Intelligence has become an inescapable reality across domains and must be meaningfully integrated into public systems,” he noted.
Highlighting governance reforms, the Minister said nearly 2,000 obsolete rules have been scrapped over the past decade as India moves towards technology-led administration. Many of these regulations, he observed, were framed for a different era and could not have anticipated present-day technological advancements. The removal of unnecessary attestations and redundant procedures reflects a shift towards trust-based governance, he added.
Dr Singh described political leadership willing to embrace forward-looking ideas as the most encouraging aspect of India’s transformation. Recalling that discussions on AI-driven governance were unimaginable in official discourse a decade and a half ago, he credited Prime Minister Modi’s reform-oriented approach for creating an enabling environment where innovation and governance reforms advance together.
Stressing the importance of capacity building, he said creating a future-ready, AI-driven nation requires continuous learning. He noted that the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) has been established to institutionalise skill upgradation among public servants. “Capacity building is not about memorising acronyms; it is about internalising their meaning and translating them into action,” he remarked.
Referring to Digital Public Goods, the Minister said that although the term is relatively new, its essence lies in citizen-centric governance. Reiterating the vision of “maximum governance, minimum government,” he described technology as an enabler rather than an end in itself.
Citing the CPGRAMS grievance redressal system as an example, Dr Singh said that while digital processing improved disposal rates, citizen satisfaction did not always align with numbers. This led to the introduction of a human interface alongside AI-driven mechanisms. The experience demonstrated that the most effective model is a hybrid one, combining Artificial Intelligence with Human Intelligence, he added.
In the health sector too, he noted, AI-assisted telemedicine services function alongside physical doctors. While AI enhances reach and efficiency, the presence of a human doctor builds reassurance and trust, particularly in India’s diverse social and linguistic landscape.
On India’s growing global recognition in AI, Dr Singh said international benchmarks are important but solutions must be tailored to Indian realities. Inclusive scaling and broader adoption, he stressed, are essential for the success of digital capacity-building initiatives.
Elaborating on the governance “MODEL” framework outlined by the Prime Minister — encompassing Moral and Ethical Systems; Accountable Governance; National Solvency; Accessible and Inclusive Systems; and Legitimacy and Validity — the Minister reiterated that reforms must be guided by both innovation and integrity.