NEW DELHI, August 20— Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha made an impassioned plea to the central government Wednesday, urging it to provide free subscriptions to advanced AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for every Indian citizen. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha under a special mention, Chadha warned that without such a measure, India risks being left far behind in the global AI race, an industry projected to create $15 trillion in value by 2030.
He noted that other nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and China, have already taken steps to provide free AI access to their citizens.
Chadha mentioned that AI is more than just a technological advancement; it’s an “opportunity to move forward, to dream big, and to fulfil those dreams.”
He suggested that AI could serve as a valuable resource for a wide range of individuals, from farmers seeking to improve efficiency with smart farming techniques to students in need of a 24/7 tutor. He also mentioned how it could assist business owners with planning, guide young people in their careers, and even help the elderly with medical inquiries.
“Every question has an answer, every problem has a solution within AI,” he mentioned.
The lawmaker pointed out the disparity between India and countries that have already adopted this policy.
He noted that while “140 crore dreams are nurtured” in India, many people are unable to access advanced AI tools because they are too expensive. Chadha stressed the importance of taking swift action, warning that “if we do not prepare for this race today, India will not only fail to emerge as a winner but will be left far behind.”
In his appeal to the government, Chadha stated, “If the Government of India provides advanced generative AI tools—like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Claude—to every citizen, across all age groups and social classes, in local languages, free of cost and in a safe manner, it can multiply our national productivity manifold and save people’s precious time.”
He gave examples of tasks that could be simplified with AI, such as writing code, analyzing data, or filling out government forms.
He concluded by calling this initiative the “next step towards digital democracy,” stating that “in this revolution of Artificial Intelligence, not a single Indian should be left behind. Only then can India truly become a Digital India.”
He urged the government to give the matter serious attention.
