The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has unveiled the India AI Governance Guidelines under the IndiaAI Mission, a landmark framework designed to ensure safe, inclusive, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors.
Unveiled by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in the presence of senior officials including Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, and Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and CEO, IndiaAI Mission, have marked a defining moment in India’s AI journey as the country strengthens its leadership in responsible AI governance.
The guidelines have outlined a robust governance structure built around four components, seven guiding principles for ethical and responsible AI, recommendations across six governance pillars, an actionable roadmap for phased implementation, and practical guidelines for industry, developers, and regulators to ensure transparent and accountable AI deployment.
Emphasising the human-centric foundation of the framework, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, has said, “Our focus remains on using existing legislation wherever possible. At the heart of it all is human centricity, ensuring AI serves humanity and benefits people’s lives while addressing potential harms.”
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, has underscored ‘Do No Harm’ as the core principle of India’s AI framework. “We focus on creating sandboxes for innovation and ensuring risk mitigation within a flexible, adaptive system. The IndiaAI Mission will enable this ecosystem and inspire many nations, especially across the Global South,” he has stated.
Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, and CEO, IndiaAI, has added that the guidelines have been shaped through extensive deliberations and public consultation. “The inputs received are a clear sign of strong engagement across sectors. The Government of India remains focused on ensuring that AI is accessible, affordable, and inclusive, while promoting a safe, trustworthy, and responsible ecosystem that fuels innovation,” he has said.
The framework, drafted by a high-level committee chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras and comprising policy experts, industry leaders, and researchers, has been envisioned as a reference point for both national and global AI governance efforts.
Alongside the launch, winners of the IndiaAI Hackathon for Mineral Targeting, organised under the Applications Development Pillar of the IndiaAI Mission in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India, have been announced. The hackathon has focused on using AI and ML to advance mineral mapping and exploration.
The top winners have included:
First Prize (Rs 10 lakh): CricSM AI – for critical and strategic mineral mapping using AI.
Second Prize (Rs 7 lakh): Knowledge and Data-Driven Mineral Targeting Approach.
Third Prize (Rs 5 lakh): SUVARN – Semi-Unsupervised Value-adaptive Artificial Resource Network.
Special Prize (Rs 5 lakh): AI-led solutions for identifying new exploration areas for critical minerals like REE, Ni-PGE, and copper.
By introducing the India AI Governance Guidelines, MeitY has reaffirmed India’s position as a global advocate for ethical, inclusive, and innovation-driven AI development. The initiative has set the tone for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19–20 in New Delhi, where global leaders and industry experts will deliberate on AI’s transformative potential for People, Planet, and Progress.
