ProductNation/iSPIRT

For reforms to have an impact we need to come out of the monolithic Single window or Portal mindset and set a stage for Connected systems with a constellation of app providers at service layer leading to a true Digital transformation. For success it requires an institutional mechanism, like an EoDB authority working on One Nation approach to build a National Regulatory Compliance Grid aligned to three Governance layers Union, State and Local bodies. Read Sudhir Singh and vallabh bhanshali ‘s article on EoDB Reforms: https://lnkd.in/gdMy3nmx Ministry of Finance NITI Aayog Piyush Goyal Rishi Agrawal

With over 50,000 loans amounting to ₹1100 crores disbursed till Oct 2025, OCEN is leading a silent revolution in the Indian credit ecosystem. Built on the principles of India Stack, this digital protocol is not just facilitating loans; it is fundamentally rewiring the architecture of MSME credit, making it instant, affordable, and accessible. The monthly growth witnessed in the calendar year 2025 proves the model is not just viable, but highly scalable, marking a new era of financial inclusion. Read our complete report on OCEN at: https://lnkd.in/gzvVAg95 Sharad Sharma Sagar Parikh Rahul Bhaik Akhilesh Kamble Government e Marketplace (GeM) SIDBI(Small Industries Development Bank of India) OPLinnovate Perfios Finarkein GetVantage 121 Finance Pvt. Ltd. OCEN

A Reformist Mindset or Reform Under Pressure? The success of any reform depends on whether it stems from a genuine reformist mindset or from the compulsion to act under pressure. Right now, the Government of India is stepping up its “ease of doing business” reforms. We must acknowledge the sincerity of this effort. Yet, the true test of its success lies in whether these actions arise from conviction — or simply as a forced, executive response to global or domestic pressure. A reformist mindset builds lasting institutions, fosters trust, and encourages people’s active participation in business and industry. A compelled response, in contrast, only creates a momentary sense of movement — a “work in progress” comfort message to stakeholders. A recent example (See report below) highlights this distinction. The Uttar Pradesh government’s announcement granting startups a 10-year exemption from routine labour inspections has been welcomed as a major boost for innovation and entrepreneurship. However, this raises a deeper question: Do we want to build a culture where employee welfare is organically nurtured by companies, or a culture of inspectors for compliance? Announcements made to signal that “we are at work” often originate from compulsion. A reformist approach, however, would have permanently dismantled the inspector raj and replaced it with a transparent system that naturally enforces “employee first” and “safety first” principles. The message many entrepreneurs read in this is worrying: “Inspector Raj is here to stay.” For the startup founder, this translates to risk, uncertainty, and a growing preference for the safety of government employment over entrepreneurship. Without a reformist mindset, the future of enterprise remains blocked. Even with strong leadership at the top, the layers beneath often cling to the old approach — “Tell me your problem, I will help.” This mindset is reactive, not transformative. Having witnessed the transformation in Uttar Pradesh and India’s governance over the last decade, one can say leadership is committed. But the question is far deeper than building a mindset of reform is needed for a long-term impact, not for messaging that "we are at work". The current global and domestic challenges demand not symbolic actions, but structural reforms rooted in conviction, not compulsion. #EoDB #AwDB #Reform #ease_of_doing_business #viksitbharat #viksitUP #startup

India stands at a pivotal moment in the AI revolution. On a recent Clearing-the-BLUR podcast with Deepak Sharma and Rajiv Jayaraman — iSPIRT founder Sharad Sharma emphasises the role of AI in empowering small Indian businesses by leveraging the country’s strategic data advantage. He explains how techno-legal frameworks such as DEPA Training can make this possible by moving beyond reliance on public data and enabling trusted flows of private data for large-scale AI training—powered by tools like differential privacy and confidential computing. For the full picture, check out this excerpt from the podcast: https://lnkd.in/gqbYYD2p

The concept of consent predates the digital era — it began in a paper-based world, where signatures and written permissions authorized the use of personal information. Today, there are two kinds: •Consent to collect data (e.g., an app accessing your camera) •Consent to share data (e.g., a bank sharing your salary details with a lender) The real challenges – and opportunities – lie in the second. Read our latest blogs to find out how respecting consent can also fuel innovation! Part 1: https://lnkd.in/ghgeXmrr Part 2: https://lnkd.in/gv9pcErt Watch the complete Open House @ https://lnkd.in/gKY5cDGK Sharad Sharma Hari Subramanian Sunu Engineer Kapil Vaswani Dr. Shyam Sundaram Sarang Galada Gaurav Aggarwal Vikram G. Pavan kumar Adukuri & Saumya Jetley

AI's first big leap came from public data. That well is running dry. Our belief is that for the next wave of AI innovation — smarter AI for healthcare, personalized finance, scientific discovery and more — proprietary (and often personal) data will be crucial. How can we unlock the value of this data, while preserving individuals' privacy and maintaining organizational confidentiality? What constitutes Privacy and Confidentiality, in the age of AI? The answer lies in a new techno-legal framework for multi-party data sharing, enabled by Privacy-Enhancing Technologies, Electronic Contracts and Data Collabs. Check out our latest (two-part) blog that outlines the conceptual foundations and how they would likely come together in practice. Part 1: https://lnkd.in/gXa9_w_V Part 2: https://lnkd.in/gsTXK7Z7 with Hari Subramanian, Sunu Engineer, Kapil Vaswani, Dr. Shyam Sundaram ProductNation/iSPIRT

Attention #entrepreneurs #startup_founders #policy_Enthusiasts There is a lot of talk about "Deregulation". It's like a Hydra-head. Remove one regulation, and the system innovates and brings a new one almost on a daily basis. How do we deal with this? There is a buzz that the GOI wants to act on it. At the same time, there is confusion. There are interest groups and associations that may have their own way and meaning of this. But this is a deep-rooted problem, and we feel it requires an out-of-the-box and disruptive way to handle it. If you think India needs this badly. What do you think is "deregulation" in its generic form? But when you think about it, also think about unethical businessmen wanting to misuse. Deregulation can't mean free-for-all, an anarchist situation. It's more about wanting to do business with honesty, paying all taxes in a self-regulated society. I am not sure how many of you think about it. But do respond with any ideas you have about deregulation. Requesting all: 1. If you have ideas about what principles can apply to reregulate, do write back. 2. You can also write sector-specific issues. 3. Send the individual problem also - we will figure out what it means generically. You can also DM me. If you do, we will collect them all, curate and write them into one script for policy inputs to the Government of India. #EoDB #ease_of_business #deregulate #regulation #deregulation #regulatory_reforms #reforms #corruption #productnation ProductNation/iSPIRT

Techno-legal emerges as a foundational pillar of India’s AI governance strategy. In the run-up to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released a revised version of the India AI Governance Guidelines, shaped by over 2,500 submissions received during the public consultation on the draft released earlier this year. The Guidelines were formally unveiled by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, as a comprehensive framework to foster the safe, inclusive, and responsible adoption of AI across sectors. Sharad Sharma from the iSPIRT Foundation served on the Drafting Committee, chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran and comprising Shri Abhishek Singh, CEO of the IndiaAI Mission and Additional Secretary, MeitY, along with eminent policy thinkers from government and non-government bodies across India. The Guidelines mark a decisive step forward in anchoring AI governance in techno-legal approaches that translate policy intent into demonstrable action. Key highlights include: 1. Emphasis on compliance-by-design, enabled by techno-legal solutions, such as DEPA Training—India’s emerging exemplar for the secure and responsible sharing of personal and proprietary data for AI training. 2. Protection of vulnerable groups, including children, from AI systems that prioritise engagement over well-being, supported by techno-legal safeguards to ensure safety and accountability. India is charting a path where law, code, and accountability converge—building the foundations of a trusted and future-ready AI ecosystem. Dive into the India AI Governance Guidelines: https://lnkd.in/dTxW6Di4

A must-watch discussion with HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry, who shared an optimistic outlook on India's strategic pivot towards becoming a true "Product Nation." He highlighted several key positive government actions that are fundamentally changing our technological landscape: *A Shift to 'Design in India'*: Chowdhry notes the current government is the first to truly recognize design as an essential element, moving beyond assembly-only incentives. This is a major change, especially with the 'Design in India' scheme under the India Semiconductor Mission. *Historic RDI Fund*: He praised the sanctioning of a Rs 1 lakh crore RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) Fund. He emphasized that this is the first time in the country's history that government money of this scale is being put into private-sector R&D. *Driving Technological Sovereignty*: The post highlights a clear government emphasis on reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical technologies like semiconductors and rare-earth materials. This is a crucial step to protect against global supply-chain disruptions. *Focus on Frontier Tech & R&D*: There is a strong government push to position India in high-tech arenas like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, and semiconductor design. Chowdhry underscores that without this R&D focus, our manufacturing ambitions can't succeed. *Building the Ecosystem*: These policies, from "Make in India" to Production-Linked Incentives (PLI), are crucial for building domestic supply chains and, most importantly, creating higher-value jobs by shifting from "just assembling" to "designing and manufacturing". It's an insightful perspective on the strategic policies laying the groundwork for India's next technological leap. Ashwini Vaishnaw Ajai Chowdhry Abhay Karandikar Department of Science, Technology and Innovation S Krishnan Sharad Sharma You can watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/g56S2drY #India #Technology #MakeInIndia #DesignInIndia #RDI #ProductNation #AjaiChowdhry #Semiconductors #AI #TechnologicalSovereignty

AI is not just a technological shift, it’s a test of how nations organize innovation. India’s opportunity lies in collaboration, not confrontation - aligning state capacity, public digital infrastructure, startups, academia, and private industry around shared national goals. Our latest piece in OPEN outlines how India can build an AI ecosystem that is open, inclusive, and sovereign - an ecosystem rooted in public purpose yet powered by private ingenuity. Read @Pg 42: https://lnkd.in/gvpsJS2n Gaurav Aggarwal Sunu Engineer Sharad Sharma