🇮🇳 India AI Governance Framework 2025: Enabling Safe, Trusted, and Inclusive AI Innovation | Summary By Piyush Wairale | AI Educator & Researcher | IIT Madras Alumnus

🌍 Introduction: 

Building a Safe and Trusted AI Future India has taken a bold step toward shaping the global AI landscape through its India AI Governance Framework 2025, designed to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes a force for good — driving innovation, inclusion, and trust. Launched under the vision of “AI for All” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this framework serves as the foundation for Safe and Trusted AI innovation. It aims to balance two vital priorities:

✅ Enabling rapid AI-driven growth and innovation
✅ Protecting citizens, institutions, and national interests from AI-related risks The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the AI Safety Institute (AISI) and expert bodies, crafted these guidelines to position India as a global leader in responsible AI governance. 

⚖️ The Core Philosophy: Seven Sutras of AI Governance At the heart of India’s AI Governance Framework are seven guiding principles, also known as the Seven Sutras. These are designed to make AI ethical, explainable, and people-centric.

Principle	Meaning
1. Trust is the Foundation	AI must earn and sustain public trust for wide adoption.
2. People First	Human oversight and empowerment are non-negotiable.
3. Innovation over Restraint	Encourage responsible innovation over excessive regulation.
4. Fairness & Equity	Prevent bias and discrimination; promote inclusion.
5. Accountability	Define clear responsibility across developers and deployers.
6. Understandable by Design	Ensure AI decisions are explainable and transparent.
7. Safety, Resilience & Sustainability	AI should be secure, robust, and eco-conscious.

🧭 The Six Pillars of India’s AI Governance Model 

The framework identifies six pillars that form the backbone of AI governance and policy implementation: 1. Infrastructure Development

• Expand India’s AI compute and data ecosystem (e.g., AIKosh, GPU clusters).
• Promote Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) integration for scalable AI adoption.
• Support local datasets for culturally relevant AI models.

2. Capacity Building

• Launch AI literacy programs for citizens, students, and officials.
• Train regulators and law enforcement on AI technologies and ethics.
• Encourage AI education in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

3. Policy & Regulation

• Use existing laws like the IT Act, DPDP Act, and Copyright Act.
• Introduce targeted amendments for AI classification, liability, and copyright.
• Implement regulatory sandboxes for safe experimentation.

4. Risk Mitigation

• Develop an India-specific AI Risk Assessment Framework.
• Create a National AI Incident Database to monitor real-world AI harms.
• Use techno-legal solutions (e.g., watermarking, privacy-enhancing tools).
• Protect children, women, and vulnerable groups from AI misuse.

5. Accountability

• Introduce a graded liability system based on risk level and role.
• Mandate grievance redressal mechanisms and transparency reports.
• Adopt self-certifications, peer monitoring, and third-party audits.

6. Institutional Coordination

• AI Governance Group (AIGG): Apex policy body to coordinate national AI policy.
• Technology & Policy Expert Committee (TPEC): Advisory and technical experts.
• AI Safety Institute (AISI): Core research and testing body for AI safety and standards.

📈 The Action Plan: Roadmap for Implementation

Phase	Timeline	Key Outcomes
Short-Term	1–2 Years	Establish AIGG, TPEC, AI Incident system, awareness programs.
Medium-Term	2–4 Years	Publish AI standards, amend laws, pilot sandboxes, integrate DPI.
Long-Term	5+ Years	Introduce new AI laws, global collaboration, sustainable governance.

🧩 Techno-Legal and Voluntary Frameworks 

India’s approach is techno-legal — embedding laws within digital infrastructure to ensure compliance-by-design. Examples include:

• DEPA for AI Training for privacy-preserving data sharing
• Algorithmic Auditing Tools for fairness and transparency
• Voluntary Standards and Certifications to encourage ethical practices

These voluntary frameworks can later evolve into mandatory standards once the AI ecosystem matures. 

🌐 Global Relevance: India Leading the Global South The India AI Governance Framework is not just a national policy — it’s a blueprint for the Global South.

By combining innovation, ethics, and inclusivity, India is setting a global example in AI diplomacy and responsible governance through participation in G20, UN, and OECD forums. 

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Balanced Approach: Promotes innovation while mitigating risks.
• Inclusive AI: Focuses on empowerment through Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Institutional Strength: Establishes AIGG, TPEC, and AISI for long-term governance.
• Global Leadership: Positions India as a leader in ethical, human-centric AI.

 India’s Vision for Safe and Inclusive AI The India AI Governance Framework 2025 represents a landmark effort to ensure that AI serves humanity responsibly.
By aligning ethics, law, and technology, India is creating a trusted, innovation-friendly ecosystem that will shape the next decade of AI transformation, economic growth, and social impact.

“AI must be safe, inclusive, and human-centric — a technology for Bharat, built by Bharat, and trusted by the world.”

Download Official India AI Governance Guidelines