India’s AI Regulation at the Crossroads: A Comprehensive Law or a Sectoral Mosaic?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging force impacting economies, governance and daily life. In India, however, its rapid uptake is resulting in a regulatory vacuum that struggles to keep pace due to technological change across sectors. This review surveys India’s evolving AI governance landscape. It situates it within the spectrum of global regulatory approaches, from the European Union’s risk-based AI Act to China’s targeted regulation of generative AI, the USA’s decentralised, sector-led model, and the United Arab Emirates’ forward-looking national strategies. The review also highlights pressing concerns in algorithmic decision-making in high-impact domains such as financial services, healthcare, employment and public welfare delivery. Here, risks of bias, opacity and the absence of effective redress mechanisms directly challenge equity, accountability and trust. Rather than prescribing a definitive path, the article brings into focus a critical policy crossroads: Should India adopt a single, comprehensive AI law that applies uniformly across sectors or should it pursue a mosaic of sector-specific regulations catering to different risk profiles? By synthesising global best practices with India’s unique governance realities, this review aims to provoke a deeper national conversation on AI regulation.