India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unveiled new AI Governance Guidelines on November 5, 2025, promoting a hands-off regulatory model for artificial intelligence. Unlike earlier drafts focused on minimizing risks, the revised framework stresses fostering innovation through balanced guardrails without hindering AI adoption. Developed under the leadership of Balaraman Ravindran from IIT Madras, and following a committee formed in July, the guidelines emphasize seven key principles: trust, people-centricity, responsible innovation, equity, accountability, understandability of large language models (LLMs), and safety, resilience, and sustainability.
This approach reflects India’s intention to enable widespread AI integration across industries while ensuring ethical and responsible use. MeitY Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh highlighted that the guidelines aim to set a global example for AI governance. The framework includes recommendations to expand access to AI infrastructure, leverage digital public infrastructure for scalability and inclusion, and build AI capacity through education and skilling programs. It further advocates agile and balanced regulatory measures tailored to India-specific risks while promoting transparency and accountability across the AI ecosystem.
The guidelines foresee a phased implementation strategy: short-term goals to establish governance institutions and increase AI safety tool availability; medium-term actions to update laws, operationalize AI incident management for cybersecurity, and integrate AI with digital infrastructure like Aadhaar; and long-term plans to draft new legislation responsive to emerging AI capabilities and risks. IT Secretary S. Krishnan underscored that though there are no immediate plans for an AI-specific law, the government remains ready to act swiftly if needed.
Launched ahead of the Delhi AI Impact Summit in February 2026, this framework aims to position India as a hub for responsible AI innovation, balancing growth with safeguards that protect individuals and society. The holistic governance architecture includes key bodies such as the AI Governance Group, the Technology and Policy Expert Committee, and the AI Safety Institute, ensuring a whole-of-government approach for effective oversight and continuous improvement.
