#IGPPExpertTalks – AI Special Series | AI for Bharat Should India follow the global AI race, or build a path of its own? As countries compete to shape the future of AI, India faces a larger strategic choice: how do we build an AI ecosystem that responds to our own needs, strengths and priorities? In this episode of #IGPPExpertTalks, Mr. Ankush Sabharwal (@SabharwalAnkush), Founder, CEO & CTO of @CoRover_App, joins Dr. Manish Tiwari (@ManishTiwari), Director, Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (@IGPPVMF), to explore India’s AI ambitions and what it will take for India to move from adopting AI to creating with it. Watch here: youtube.com/live/cJo1eXlsrbk @Ranjana_Kush | @AnkurTi76797199 | @Vikas_IGPP #IGPPExpertTalks #AIforBharat #SovereignAI #AI #AIGovernance #TechnologyPolicy #DigitalSovereignty #AIIndia #IGPP #BharatGPT #CoRover #AIStrategy #IndiaTech

#PolicyWatch On 13 October 2026, the Ministry of Women and Child Development confirmed that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is developing an AI-based tool to proactively detect Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) circulating online. The initiative marks a step towards strengthening technology-enabled child protection. Its effectiveness will depend on how suspected material is identified, how detection connects with reporting and investigation mechanisms, and what safeguards are established to address false positives, privacy and accountability. Through #IGPPExpertTalks – AI Special Series, IGPP has explored the evolving role of AI in CSAM creation, circulation and detection, alongside the policy and technological challenges of protecting children online. Watch the discussion: youtube.com/live/2XNCpdrlDFQ… @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #ChildOnlineSafety #AI #DigitalSafety #ChildProtection #IGPP

A glimpse into the roundtable 'Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India' convened by the Institute for Governance, Policies & Politics (IGPP), in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research (CSR), at TASI Festival 2026. The discussion brought together diverse stakeholder perspectives on age assurance, online safety and platform accountability, examining how children’s protection can be strengthened while safeguarding their rights, privacy and access to digital opportunities. @CSR_India | @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @jvadhera #TASIFestival2026 #ChildOnlineSafety #TrustAndSafety

A glimpse into the roundtable 'Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India' convened by the Institute for Governance, Policies & Politics (IGPP), in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research (CSR), at TASI Festival 2026. The discussion brought together diverse stakeholder perspectives on age assurance, online safety and platform accountability, examining how children’s protection can be strengthened while safeguarding their rights, privacy and access to digital opportunities. @CSR_India | @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @jvadhera #TASIFestival2026 #ChildOnlineSafety #TrustAndSafety

Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India Today at the TASI Festival 2026, the Institute for Governance, Policies & Politics (IGPP), in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research (CSR), convenes a roundtable on the challenges of building safer, age-appropriate digital environments for children in India. The discussion will bring together perspectives from policy, technology, child rights, privacy, media and academia to examine age assurance, age-based restrictions, platform accountability and the practical considerations involved in implementing these measures. At its core, the conversation will explore how India can strengthen children’s online safety while safeguarding their rights to privacy, information, participation and access to digital opportunities. Date: 15 October 2026 Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM Venue: Seminar Hall 3, India International Centre, New Delhi @CSR_India | @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @jvadhera #TASIFestival2026 #ChildOnlineSafety #TrustAndSafety #DigitalPolicy

We are excited to have the opportunity to host an interactive Roundtable at the upcoming Trust and Safety India (TASI) Festival, 2026, organized in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research. IGPP is hosting the roundtable discussion titled ‘Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India’ on 15 October 2026. In this closed-door roundtable, we’ll explore emerging approaches across jurisdictions to creating a safer digital ecosystem for children, with a particular focus on age assurance as a policy and regulatory approach. The discussion will examine the practical challenges of implementing such measures, lessons that may be relevant for India, and how child safety can be strengthened while safeguarding children’s rights, participation, privacy and access to the opportunities offered by digital technologies. We look forward to connecting with the trust and safety community in New Delhi! 📅 14–15 October 2026 📍 India International Centre, New Delhi @CSR_India | @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @jvadhera

#IGPPArchives As we approach the TASI Festival 2026, we revisit our earlier conversation on age limits and safety by design, issues that remain central to discussions on children’s online safety. The conversation highlighted how age restrictions and safer platform design can work together, with legislation encouraging platforms to take greater responsibility for demonstrating the safety of their services for young users. These questions remain central to the debate on age-appropriate digital environments for children and will be explored further at our upcoming roundtable, “Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India,” at the TASI Festival 2026. Date: 15 October 2026 Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM Venue: Seminar Hall 3, India International Centre, New Delhi @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #TASIFestival2026 #ChildOnlineSafety #OnlineSafety

Practising the Policy around Trust & Safety | In-person Orientation at the Centre for Social Research The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP), in association with the @CSR_India and the TASI Festival, conducted an In-person orientation session for students enrolled in its Trust & Safety programme. The orientation introduced participants to the programme structure, session allocations, and their respective roles and responsibilities during the TASI Festival 2026. It also familiarised students with their responsibilities for the festival, helping them understand their roles and prepare for their participation in the event. @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @JVadehra | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #TrustAndSafety #TechPolicy #DigitalGovernance #PolicyResearch #TASIFestival #IGPP #StudentProgramme

#TechAcrossBorders On 8 October, the Philippine Senate approved the proposed SMART KIDS Act on third and final reading, seeking to restrict social media access for children under 18 on platforms classified as high-risk digital services. Following the vote, UNICEF Philippines called for a broader approach to online safety, emphasising safety-by-design, platform accountability, age-appropriate protections and accessible reporting mechanisms. Effective child online safety also requires addressing harmful platform design, online exploitation and the systems children can turn to when they need help. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #ChildOnlineSafety #DigitalPolicy #PlatformAccountability #OnlineSafety #IGPP

Practising the Policy around Trust & Safety | Session 3: Introduction to Report Writing The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP) convened the third online session of its Trust & Safety programme for students, in association with the @CSR_India and the TASI Festival. Building on the previous sessions, this session focused on the fundamentals of session report writing and how to translate live discussions into structured, concise and meaningful policy records. The session covered: >An introduction to the purpose and importance of session reporting >Identifying key arguments, perspectives and examples from live discussions >Moving from notes to analysis by identifying key themes and insights >Structuring a session report that captures the substance of a discussion without reproducing it word for word The session provided participants with practical insights into documenting discussions and communicating their key takeaways effectively. @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari |@ranjana_kush | @jvadhera | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #TrustAndSafety #TechPolicy #DigitalGovernance #PolicyResearch #TASIFestival #IGPP #StudentProgramme

#Explainer AI systems are increasingly being used by public authorities for monitoring, enforcement and decision-making. But what happens when an automated system gets it wrong? A Bengaluru motorist reportedly received a traffic challan after an AI-enabled camera mistook a guitar strapped to his back for a pillion rider without a helmet. As the use of AI in public services expands, understanding how these systems work, where errors can occur and how citizens can challenge incorrect decisions becomes increasingly important. Read our explainer to understand AI in public-sector enforcement. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AI #AIGovernance #PublicPolicy #DigitalGovernance

Practising the Policy around Trust & Safety | Session 2 The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP) convened the second online session of its Trust & Safety programme for students, in association with the @CSR_India and the TASI Festival. As digital platforms evolve, Trust & Safety has become an important area of engagement across technology, law and public policy. Building on the introductory session, this session focused on helping participants understand the Trust & Safety ecosystem, TASI’s mission and the key themes shaping discussions on online safety and platform governance. The session covered: >An introduction to TASI and its role as a multi-stakeholder summit >An overview of the Trust & Safety ecosystem and its core thematic pillars >An introduction to the different formats of the TASI Festival, including keynotes, policy roundtables, fireside chats and technical workshops >Exploring the intersection of technology, law and public policy in addressing online safety challenges The session offered participants a broader understanding of the TASI Festival 2026 and the range of perspectives that inform Trust & Safety discussions. We thank all participants for their engagement and look forward to the upcoming sessions as we prepare for the TASI Festival 2026, taking place on 14–15 October at the India International Centre, New Delhi. @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @JVadehra | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #TrustAndSafety #TechPolicy #DigitalGovernance #PolicyResearch #TASIFestival #IGPP #StudentProgramme

#PolicyOnGround Telangana is preparing a comprehensive Child Online Safety Framework to strengthen protection against cybercrime and improve children's access to justice. Announced by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at NALSA’s South Zone Regional Conference in Hyderabad, the proposed framework is to be developed with inputs from the Telangana High Court, TGSLSA and parents. The state has also emphasised extending child-protection initiatives to every village, alongside strengthening online safety measures and child-friendly justice systems. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush |@TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #ChildOnlineSafety #ChildProtection #DigitalSafety #AccessToJustice

#PolicyWatch The Prime Minister has called for a global framework to tackle deepfakes, highlighting the growing challenge they pose at the inauguration of the 10th India Mobile Congress. He also suggested exploring mechanisms that would allow users to identify the origin of deepfakes and AI-generated content, alongside calling for global standards and common rules for emerging technologies. These proposals bring the focus to a key challenge in AI governance: enabling users to distinguish authentic content from manipulated media and strengthening accountability across the digital ecosystem. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #IGPP #Deepfakes #AIGovernance #DigitalSafety

#PolicyWatch AI chatbots are introducing safety features for younger users, but how reliably do these protections work in practice? Recent testing of ChatGPT’s teen experience reported gaps in parental alerts, crisis referrals, age detection and safeguards designed to support learning. The tests also found that the share of flagged responses mentioning a crisis hotline fell from 33% before Teen mode to 23% after its introduction. These findings highlight a broader challenge for AI governance: safety features must be evaluated not just by their presence, but by whether they function effectively when young users may be at risk. For AI systems used by minors, reliable age detection, effective crisis responses and functioning parental controls are essential to meaningful protection. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AIGovernance #OnlineChildSafety #YouthSafety #IGPP

We are excited to have the opportunity to host an interactive Roundtable at the upcoming Trust and Safety India (TASI) Festival, 2026, organized in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research. IGPP is hosting the roundtable discussion titled ‘Age, Access and Safety: Building an Age-Appropriate Digital Ecosystem for Children in India’ on 15 October 2026. In this closed-door roundtable, we’ll explore emerging approaches across jurisdictions to creating a safer digital ecosystem for children, with a particular focus on age assurance as a policy and regulatory approach. The discussion will examine the practical challenges of implementing such measures, lessons that may be relevant for India, and how child safety can be strengthened while safeguarding children’s rights, participation, privacy and access to the opportunities offered by digital technologies. We look forward to connecting with the trust and safety community in New Delhi! 📅 14–15 October 2026 📍 India International Centre, New Delhi 🔗 Registration Link: trustandsafetyindia.org/regi… @CSR_India | @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @jvadhera

#PolicyWatch At the launch of the World Development Report 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined key elements of India’s emerging approach to AI governance. His address highlighted AI safety, human-first AI, inclusion, skilling and societal harms associated with AI, with particular attention to the growing risks of deepfakes and their potential psychological impact. He also called for a techno-legal approach, emphasising that AI governance will require both regulatory measures and greater responsibility from industry. A regulation-focused consultation paper, he said, is expected to provide a basis for further discussion on India’s approach to AI regulation. @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @TheVikasLohchab | @kashishjain2409 #AIGovernance #AIRegulation #AISafety #ResponsibleAI #Deepfakes #ArtificialIntelligence #IndiaAI #IGPP

Practising the Policy around Trust & Safety | Introductory Session The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP) convened the first online session of its Trust & Safety programme for students on 07 October 2026, in association with @CSR_India and the TASI Festival. Trust & Safety decisions are increasingly shaped at the intersection of technology, law and public policy. This programme is designed to help students build a grounded understanding of that policy landscape, engage with voices from across the field, and gain practical exposure ahead of the TASI Festival 2026. The opening session brought together: >Welcoming remarks by Dr. Manish Tiwari, Director, IGPP >An introduction to the TASI Festival by Ms. Sonia Bhaskar, Senior Programme Coordination Consultant, Centre For Social Research >Introductions from the participant cohort >Closing remarks by Ms. Ranjana Kushwaha, Policy Research Consultant, IGPP @ranjanakumari | @manishtiwari | @ranjana_kush | @JVadehra We thank our speakers and participants for a thoughtful start, and look forward to the sessions ahead. #TrustAndSafety #TechPolicy #DigitalGovernance #PolicyResearch #TASIFestival #IGPP