Finance Ministry Bans Use Of ChatGPT & DeepSeek As Sam Altman Visits India

New Delhi: The Union Finance Ministry has directed its employees to avoid using AI tools, including ChatGPT and DeepSeek, for official purposes.

An internal department advisory to employees cited risks posed to confidentiality of government documents and data as the reason for such a directive, reported Reuters.

Similar restrictions on use of DeepSeek have already been enforced in countries like Australia and Italy, citing data security risks.

The Indian Finance Ministry’s advisory, dated January 29, comes at a time when OpenAI chief Sam Altman is visiting India and is scheduled to Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc.) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents,” said the Finance Ministry’s advisory.

India has ambitious plans to push artificial intelligence through its recently-announced IndiaAI Mission, which has been allocated Rs 10,371 crore over five years.

There was no immediate response from Finance ministry, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI or DeepSeek on India’s move.

It was also not clear whether similar directives have been issued for other Indian ministries.