Lok Sabha Question No. 3626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, R. VANAROJA, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3626

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JANUARY, 2019

## ARTIFICIAL  INTELLIGENCE

3626.  SHRI  PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRIMATI  VANAROJA  R.: SHRI  BHARATHI  MOHAN  R.K.:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any decision for the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in the activities of Defence and DRDO;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the Government's proactive reaction in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has constituted any committee and announced formula to address this matter and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the funds allocated for this purpose during the last three years and the manner in which it is going to reduce the burden of our defence personnel in future?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

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(a) to (c): Yes, Madam.  Ministry of Defence  has initiated the process of preparing Indian defence forces for use of Artificial Intelligence.  To study the whole gamut of issues on the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on National security and defence needs, a multi-stakeholder Task Force on Strategic Implementation of Artificial Intelligence for National Security and Defence represented by members from the Government, Defence Services, Academia,  Industry  Professionals,  Defence  Research  and  Development Organization (DRDO), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), National Cyber  Security Coordinator (NCSC), Indian  Space  Research Organization  (ISRO),  Bhabha  Atomic  Research  Centre  (BARC)  and  Startups was constituted in February, 2018.

- Task Force has studied research and innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and outlined its adoption in defence sector including future roadmap  on  how  to  integrate  and  embed  AI  strategy  with  core  defence strategy. In  addition  the  Defence  Public  Sector  Undertakings  and  Ordnance Factories  have  been  assigned  a  roadmap  for  developing  AI  enabled products. (d) There is no specific fund allocation on yearly basis.  However, funds are  allocated  for  various  projects  on  case  to  case  basis.    Some  of  the projects are as under: A  project    has  been  sanctioned  to  Centre  for  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and  Robotics  (CAIR),  a  DRDO  based laboratory, to develop AI based solutions for signal intelligence  to  enhance  intelligence  collation  and  analysis capabilities  to  the  armed  forces.    The  total  cost  of  the project is Rs.73.9 Crore. A project named, Energy Harvesting Based Infrared Sensor Network for Automated Human Intrusion Detection (EYESIRa), which is partially based on the principles of  IoT, has been sanctioned for Rs.1.8 Crore. Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  based  tools  would  aid  the  defence  forces

constructively  in  areas  such  as  decision  support,  sensor  data  analysis, predictive  maintenance,  situational  awareness,  accurate  data  extraction, security etc.  These tools will assist defence personnel in better operations, maintenance and logistics support.

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