Overview On February 05, 2026 , Viswam.AI , a joint initiative of Swecha and IIIT Hyderabad , in collaboration with SFLC.in , released a draft open‑source data license for public consultation. The launch was announced at a round‑table titled “ Understanding Trust and Safety in AI: From Code to Creativity ” held at IIIT Hyderabad. The draft seeks to plug critical gaps in existing open‑source licences concerning data usage, attribution, and the definition of openness in the era of generative AI, aiming to protect community‑generated datasets from un‑attributed commercial exploitation. Key Developments Development 1: Publication of the draft licence on the SFLC.in discussion forum ( link ) for stakeholder feedback. Development 2: Announcement of a series of online and in‑person public consultations to gather inputs from developers, legal experts, and civil society. Development 3: Explicit statements by Kiran Chandra Yarlagadda , Centre Head & Chief Technologist, Viswam.AI, and Prasanth Sugathan , Legal Director, SFLC.in, underscoring the need to prevent proprietary AI models from appropriating community‑created datasets without attribution. Important Facts Fact 1: The draft licence is the first Indian‑origin open‑source data licence that explicitly addresses AI‑generated content, community ownership, and verifiability. Fact 2: The initiative builds on the legacy of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement, positioning India as a potential leader in ethical AI data governance. UPSC Relevance This development intersects with several UPSC syllabus components. In GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice), it relates to intellectual property rights, digital governance, and the regulation of emerging technologies. GS Paper III (Technology, Economic Development) covers AI ethics, data sovereignty, and the role of open‑source ecosystems in innovation. Questions may probe the challenges of drafting AI‑specific licences, compare Indian initiatives with global frameworks like the EU’s AI Act, or assess the impact on innovation and public‑interest technology. Way Forward Policymakers should consider formalising the draft into a statutory framework that balances open‑source collaboration with safeguards against commercial misuse. Continuous stakeholder engagement, capacity‑building for creators, and alignment with international standards will be crucial. A robust licensing regime can enhance India’s credibility in global AI governance while fostering indigenous data ecosystems.