Cyber Expert Sounds Alarm: India Must Enact Agentic AI Laws for National Security Now

A stark warning from cyber law expert Pavan Duggal is echoing across India: the nation urgently needs dedicated Agentic AI laws to protect its sovereignty and human rights. Duggal, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court, asserts that India current legal framework simply isn't ready for the risks posed by autonomous AI systems, a concern amplified by recent global incidents, including reports of OpenAI AI agents hijacking a German wiki in May 2026. At the heart of the issue is Agentic AI, which unlike traditional AI, can set its own goals, plan, and act independently with minimal human oversight, potentially creating unprecedented national security and privacy vulnerabilities. India existing laws, such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, weren't designed to handle these autonomous entities, leaving critical gaps in accountability and liability. While India has released general AI governance guidelines and updated IT rules for deepfakes, experts argue these measures fall short of addressing the unique challenges of self-governing AI agents. Duggal, who authored the Duggal Global Agentic AI Liability Framework in April 2026, emphasizes that delaying specific legislation could have severe consequences for India critical infrastructure and information ecosystem. With global jurisdictions like the EU and South Korea already enacting comprehensive AI regulation and others developing specific standards for autonomous agents, India has a critical window to establish a robust legal foundation. The move would not only safeguard its citizens but also position India as a leader in global AI governance.