[2603.26865] A federated architecture for sector-led AI governance: lessons from India

Computer Science > Computers and Society arXiv:2603.26865 (cs) [Submitted on 27 Mar 2026] Title:A federated architecture for sector-led AI governance: lessons from India Authors:Avinash Agarwal, Manisha J. Nene View a PDF of the paper titled A federated architecture for sector-led AI governance: lessons from India, by Avinash Agarwal and Manisha J. Nene View PDF Abstract:Purpose: India has adopted a vertical, sector-led AI governance strategy. While promoting innovation, such a light-touch approach risks policy fragmentation. This paper aims to propose a cohesive "whole-of-government" architecture to mitigate these risks and connect policy goals with a practical implementation plan. Design/methodology/approach: The paper applies an established five-layer conceptual framework to the Indian context. First, it constructs a national architecture for overall governance. Second, it uses a detailed case study on AI incident management to validate and demonstrate the architecture's practical utility in designing a specific, operational system. Findings: The paper develops two actionable architectures. The primary model assigns clear governance roles to India's key institutions. The second is a detailed, federated architecture for national AI Incident Management. It addresses the data silo problem by using a common national standard that allows sector-specific data collection while facilitating cross-sectoral analysis. Practical implications: The proposed architectures offer a clea...