India Unveils National AI Governance Framework Anchored On ‘Do No Harm’ Principle

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) today (5 November) unveiled the India AI Governance Guidelines under the IndiaAI Mission, introducing a national framework aimed at ensuring safe, inclusive, and responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence across sectors.

The guidelines were formally launched by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in the presence of MeitY secretary S Krishnan, IndiaAI Mission CEO and MeitY additional secretary Abhishek Singh; and senior officials from IIT Madras and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.

Framework Anchored on ‘Do No Harm’

Professor Sood highlighted “Do No Harm” as the cornerstone of India’s AI framework, emphasising the creation of innovation sandboxes and robust risk mitigation mechanisms.

He described the guidelines as part of a flexible and adaptive ecosystem designed to inspire safe AI development across the Global South.

Secretary S Krishnan underlined the framework’s human-centric approach, stating that existing legislation would be leveraged wherever possible to ensure AI serves humanity while addressing potential risks.

Key Features of the Guidelines

The comprehensive framework includes:

• Seven guiding principles (Sutras) for ethical and responsible AI use

• Key recommendations across six pillars of AI governance.

• An action plan mapped to short, medium, and long-term timelines.

• Practical guidelines for industry, developers, and regulators to ensure transparent and accountable AI deployment.

The document was prepared by a high-level committee chaired by Professor Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras, with contributions from policy experts, industry leaders, and government officials.

It serves as a foundational reference for fostering both national and international cooperation on responsible AI.

Towards the India AI Impact Summit 2026

The unveiling of the guidelines sets the stage for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 19-20 February 2026, in New Delhi.

The summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and researchers to deliberate on how AI can advance People, Planet, and Progress.

Also Read: India Set To Launch National Large Language AI Model By End Of 2025 To Reduce Dependence On Foreign Systems