India has released its new AI Governance Guidelines, a national framework aimed at maximizing the country’s economic and development gains from artificial intelligence while preventing harm, safeguarding rights, and ensuring responsible use with the potential to widen inequality or to serve as an engine of inclusion and innovation.

The initiative follows a 2023 commitment by the Government of India to build an adaptive, future-focused AI governance framework. The work was led by a Drafting Committee chaired by Professor Balaraman Ravindran and supported by policy and industry experts.

The new framework lays out four components: key principles such as fairness, accountability, and inclusivity; recommendations across enablement, regulation, and oversight; an action plan detailing short-, medium-, and long-term steps; and practical sector-specific guidelines.

The guidelines cover issues including data governance, risk classification, generative AI, transparency, safety testing, and grievance redressal — while emphasizing human oversight and capacity building.

The government says the framework is designed to foster innovation at scale while protecting citizens, supporting democratic values, and ensuring AI deployment aligns with national priorities.

The release marks a significant step in India’s attempt to actively shape an AI ecosystem that is safe, trustworthy, inclusive, and globally competitive.