Washington: India has emerged as one of the world’s leading adopters of artificial intelligence in the public sector, tying for second place globally with Singapore, according to the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026 released by Public First for the Center for Data Innovation, with support from Google.
The index is based on a survey of 3,335 public servants across 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, India, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. It assesses how effectively governments are using AI across five dimensions—enthusiasm, empowerment, enablement, embedding, and education—to measure both adoption and institutional readiness.
Rapid uptake in India
Public servants in India reported rapid growth in AI use, with more than half beginning to use AI tools within the past year and 84% saying AI use in their workplace has increased during that period. Practical benefits are widely reported: 91% cited time savings, while 81% said AI tools were helpful in their work.
Peer learning is also strong, with 84% discussing AI use with colleagues, 74% learning new approaches from peers, and 72% sharing AI use cases across teams.
Training strong, institutional support uneven
The report found relatively strong levels of education and empowerment in India. Sixty-seven percent of public servants surveyed said they had received some form of AI training, and 84% of trained respondents reported productivity gains. More than half of public sector organisations have a formal or developing AI policy, and nearly half of respondents said they felt very confident using AI tools.
However, institutional enablement remains inconsistent. Only 63% reported organisational investment in AI tools, and the survey revealed widespread reliance on informal workarounds. More than 70% of respondents said they had used AI tools without their manager’s knowledge or through personal accounts, pointing to gaps in formal access and governance.
Rachel Wolf, CEO of Public First, said governments vary widely in how effectively they support real-world AI use.
“Many governments have ambitious plans for AI in the public sector, but some are creating better conditions for everyday use than others. This matters because effective AI leads to better public services and stronger outcomes for citizens,” she said.
Global trends
Globally, public sector AI adoption is accelerating. Nearly three-quarters of public servants surveyed reported using AI, with 74% adopting it within the past year. About 80% said AI made them feel more empowered in their daily roles, particularly in countries with clear leadership guidance. However, only 18% believe their governments are using AI very effectively, indicating significant scope for improvement.
Advanced vs cautious adopters
The index categorises countries into three broad groups. Advanced adopters—including India, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia—combine strong leadership with widespread, everyday AI use. Uneven adopters, such as the US, UK, South Africa, and Brazil, show progress but face gaps in infrastructure or guidance. Cautious adopters, including Germany, France, and Japan, remain more risk-averse, with AI largely confined to specialist or limited applications.
Daniel Castro, Director of the Center for Data Innovation, said translating ambition into outcomes is the next challenge.
“Policymakers can learn from advanced adopters and focus on removing barriers so AI delivers real improvements for citizens,” he said.
Scores for each country were calculated on a 0–100 scale, allowing cross-country comparison, with higher scores indicating more mature and supportive conditions for effective AI adoption.
