India Admits Lack of Standalone Tech Diplomacy Document

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has informed a parliamentary committee that the nation does not possess a singular, standalone policy document consolidating its strategy across digital governance, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber issues, and space diplomacy. This admission was detailed in the 17th report of the Committee on External Affairs, submitted in September 2026.

The parliamentary committee expressed strong criticism of the current approach, describing it as "fragmentary, piecemeal and ad hoc." The report stated that while India's strategic direction is reflected across various sectoral missions and inter-ministerial coordination, this fragmented approach falls short of the demands of rapidly evolving technology diplomacy. A collection of isolated initiatives, however successful, cannot substitute for a clearly articulated national vision, according to the committee.

The Ministry indicated that its strategic direction in these critical domains is currently dispersed across sectoral missions, inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms, and India's positions in various bilateral and multilateral engagements. The committee recommended that the MEA, in consultation with relevant ministries like MeitY and the Department of Space, should initiate the development of a comprehensive "Technology Vision and Strategy Document."

Furthermore, the panel advised establishing a formally constituted "Inter-Ministerial Coordination Mechanism on Technology Diplomacy" to be chaired by the MEA. The committee also suggested that both the envisioned strategy document and complementary policy should be made public and periodically reviewed to keep pace with technological advancements. The report cautioned that there is a risk of announcements in tech partnerships outpacing implementation.