Minister says AI should be viewed as tool applicable across sectors
Nuclear energy would supplement India’s other energy programmes and contribute to meeting the power requirements of an increasingly technology-driven economy, especially the expansion of Artificial Intelligence and data centres which would require dependable sources of electricity capable of meeting their substantial and continuous energy needs, says Nuclear Energy Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
He has also underlined that India’s nuclear programme is dedicated to peaceful purposes and not warfare, reaffirming the vision that has guided the country’s nuclear journey since its inception.
The Minister said India’s nuclear energy ambitions must be viewed in the context of its long-term development goals and clean energy commitments. With the country targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070, nuclear energy is expected to complement other sources of power by providing a continuous and reliable supply of clean electricity, elaborated the Department of Atomic Energy in a release on 20 Oct.
On the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence, the Minister said AI should be viewed as a tool applicable across sectors rather than as a domain in itself. From Space and life sciences to other areas of scientific and technological development, AI is set to become an increasingly necessary instrument. Emphasising the importance of human judgement in its application, he said, “One has to be intelligent enough to use Artificial Intelligence.”
Dr Jitendra Singh said AI offers significant advantages across domains, but ensuring its optimal use without allowing it to be misused by individuals or other actors remains a key challenge. While regulations are in place, he said integrity at both the individual and national level is fundamental to ensuring that the technology is used responsibly.
The Minister also referred to the wider opening of critical and sensitive sectors to non-government, adding that the approach has expanded the scope for private sector participation in areas that were traditionally more restricted, creating opportunities for industry to contribute to technological advancement, innovation and national development.
Dr Jitendra Singh’s remarks bring together two important dimensions of India’s development trajectory: strengthening nuclear energy as a dependable source of clean power and harnessing emerging technologies such as AI through responsible, human-led application.
As India advances towards its 2047 development goals and its 2070 Net Zero commitment, reliable energy infrastructure and wider participation in strategic sectors will remain important to sustaining the country’s technological and economic ambitions, he underscored.
The Minister shared his views on nuclear and related advancing industries on the sidelines of the recently held ‘Bloomberg Economy Forum 2026’, in Delhi, said the Ministry. Fiinews.com
