India Unveils Comprehensive AI Governance Framework
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has launched the India AI Governance Guidelines under the IndiaAI Mission, establishing a phased framework for responsible AI deployment across all sectors.
Key Takeaways
- Phased governance model leveraging existing laws rather than immediate regulation
- New oversight bodies including AI safety institute and expert committees
- Seven core principles: trust, fairness, accountability, explainability, innovation, equity, sustainability
- Techno-legal approach embedding compliance directly into technology systems
New Oversight Structure
The framework proposes creating an AI safety institute, technology and policy expert committee, and AI governance group to coordinate standards and monitor risks. It also recommends developing risk classification frameworks, incident reporting systems, and regulatory sandboxes.
Core Governance Principles
The panel led by IIT Madras professor B Ravindran established seven fundamental principles for AI governance: trust, fairness, accountability, explainability, innovation over restraint, equity, and sustainability.
Leveraging Existing Laws
The committee emphasized that many AI risks can be managed under current legislation. The Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cover AI misuse like deepfakes, while the Digital Personal Data Protection Act governs personal data use in AI training.
Techno-Legal Approach
The framework advocates embedding legal safeguards directly into technology systems, making regulatory compliance “automatic by design” and reducing manual enforcement needs.
Government Perspective
IT Secretary S Krishnan stated India will take a “deliberate, innovation-first approach,” intervening with legislation only when necessary to protect citizens.
“Regulation isn’t the priority today. But if the need arises, the government will not hesitate to act,” he said.
Krishnan emphasized human-centric development as the framework’s core, ensuring AI technologies benefit society while addressing potential harms.
“Our focus is on human centricity-ensuring AI serves people and contributes to better lives,” he added.
Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Sood highlighted that effective AI governance will require collaboration across ministries and industries.
