AI policy & news blog
Analysis of AI policy and governance news relevant to Indian businesses — summits, government guidelines, and how India’s approach compares internationally. Every claim links back to a dated, named source.
Is Sarvam AI free? What you can use for free, and what Sarvam charges in 2026
Partly. Sarvam's Indus chat app is free to use as of October 2026, and its developer APIs come with free sign-up credits and no monthly fee — after that you pay per minute or per character, in rupees. Here's exactly what's free, what isn't, and current prices.
Jio ChatGPT offer 2026: Jio's free AI is Gemini Pro, and the claim deadline is 29 October
There's no free ChatGPT with a Jio recharge. Jio's free AI deal is 18 months of Google AI Pro (Gemini) on ₹349+ 5G or ₹299+ 1.5 GB/day plans, and Jio's terms say new claims close on 29 October 2026. OpenAI's free ChatGPT Go year closed in January. Here's what you can still get, and what ChatGPT costs now.
Is ChatGPT free for Airtel users? Which SIM or recharge gives free AI in 2026
No Indian mobile recharge includes ChatGPT as of October 2026. Airtel's free AI deal was Perplexity Pro and it closed in January; Jio's is Google AI Pro; we found no AI bundle on Vi. Here's what each SIM gets you, and the Perplexity renewals Airtel users should check now.
US suspends TCS, Infosys, Wipro and others from the green card PERM process: what it means
On 8 October 2026 the US Labor Department suspended several large IT employers from PERM, the first step of an employer-sponsored green card. It is not a ban on Indians or a cancellation of H-1B visas. Here is what is confirmed, what is not, and who is affected.
Free ChatGPT Go, Gemini Pro and Perplexity Pro in India (2026): which offers still work
The free ChatGPT Go year closed in January and its renewals start charging in November 2026. Jio's 18 months of Google AI Pro is still open, but Jio's terms close new claims on 29 October 2026. Airtel's Perplexity Pro has ended. Here's the state of each offer, what's in it, and the fine print.
India's AI-content labelling rules: what the 2026 IT Rules mean for creators and businesses
Since 20 February 2026, AI-generated images, audio and video in India must carry a clear label, platforms must act on some takedowns within two or three hours, and AI tools must embed traceable metadata. Here's what the amended IT Rules actually require — and what they mean if you make content with AI.
AI and copyright in India: where ANI v OpenAI and the government's licence plan stand
In July 2026 the Delhi High Court refused to stop OpenAI training on ANI's news, calling it prima facie fair dealing. Meanwhile the government has proposed a mandatory licence with royalties for all AI training. Here's what each actually says, and what it means for businesses using AI tools.
Sarvam AI vs ChatGPT: which one should Indian users and businesses pick?
Sarvam is built in India for Indian languages and voice; ChatGPT is the global all-rounder with 100 million weekly users here. A side-by-side on languages, price in rupees, GST, data residency and where each one actually wins.
DPDP's 13 November 2026 deadline: what it changes for businesses using AI tools
The first date-bound obligation under India's DPDP Rules lands on 13 November 2026 — while the Data Protection Board meant to oversee it still has no appointed members. Here's what actually takes effect, what waits until May 2027, and what to ask any AI vendor that touches your customers' data.
GST on ChatGPT subscriptions in India: is it charged, and can you claim the 18% back?
Yes, ChatGPT, Claude and other foreign AI subscriptions carry 18% GST in India. Individuals simply pay it; GST-registered businesses pay it under reverse charge and can claim it all back — but most either lose it or build up an unpaid liability. Here's how the rules work, and the monthly steps that make the GST cost net to zero.
Sarvam AI in 2026: what Indian businesses can actually use today
Sarvam has gone from one Indian-language model to a unicorn with speech, voice agents, a 105B model — and, now, other companies' models hosted on its platform. Here's what's shipped, what it costs, and where it fits against the global options.
NPCI just drew the line on AI agents paying with your money on UPI
At Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai, NPCI laid out how AI agents will — and won't — be allowed to transact on UPI. The headline isn't "AI can pay for you now"; it's where NPCI refuses to let AI make the final call.
RBI's FREE-AI framework: what it means for voice AI and chatbots in Indian finance
The Reserve Bank of India's FREE-AI committee published 26 recommendations for AI in banking, NBFCs and fintech in August 2025 — including a Board-approved AI policy expectation. Here's what it actually says, and why it lands squarely on customer-support AI.
The 18th BRICS Summit: what's actually on the table for AI
India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit on 12-13 September 2026 in New Delhi. Here's the confirmed agenda on AI and technology — not the outcomes, which weren't final when this was published.
BRICS agreed on AI governance principles in 2025 — here's what it says
Before India's 2026 chairmanship, BRICS leaders signed a statement on global AI governance. The headline idea: AI access shouldn't be a privilege reserved for a handful of rich countries.
India's AI rules vs. China and Brazil's, compared
India published its AI Governance Guidelines in February 2026. China regulates AI with binding, application-specific rules; Brazil took an EU-style rights-based approach. Here's how the three actually differ.
The IndiaAI Mission in 2026: what's actually been delivered
₹10,371.92 crore, a 100,000-GPU target, a February summit with 88 countries, and three indigenous AI models unveiled. Here's what the IndiaAI Mission has shipped so far in 2026, separate from the announcements.