Executive Summary:
The Indian government is developing a national framework for AI safety, reliability, and responsible deployment, using an inclusive and innovation-friendly approach. An Advisory Group on AI has been formed, and expert groups have been constituted to develop India-specific guidelines. India is set to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Key Points / Main Content:
AI Governance and Regulation:
* The government has formed an Advisory Group on AI, chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, to develop an India-specific regulatory framework for Responsible AI.
* The Advisory Group comprises stakeholders from academia, industry, and government.
* The government emphasizes a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to AI regulation.
* A techno-legal approach to AI regulation is recommended, combining legal safeguards with technological solutions.
* Public consultation on AI Governance Guidelines has been completed, with over 100 suggestions received.
IndiaAI Initiatives:
* Seven expert groups were constituted to collaboratively brainstorm on the vision, objectives, outcomes, and design for each of India's AI pillars.
* The first edition of IndiaAI expert group report details the objectives of the pillars of IndiaAI and recommends action items for harnessing AI for social development and achieving the goal of AI for ALL.
* IndiaAI Safety Institute is being set up for AI safety, security, and trust.
* Responsible AI projects are underway, covering areas like Machine Unlearning, AI Bias Mitigation, and Privacy-Enhancing Tools.
* RD projects are being funded at IITs to build AI tools for deepfake detection, privacy enhancement, and cybersecurity.
Ethical AI Standards:
* A Standard for Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial Intelligence Systems (TEC 57050:2023) has been developed.
* Indian standard ISISOIECTR 24368:2022 provides an overview of AI ethical and societal concerns and international standards addressing these issues.
IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026:
* India is hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
* Public consultations have been conducted to gather inputs from stakeholders for shaping the Summit's agenda.
Impact Analysis:
Government:
* Impact: Responsible for developing and implementing AI governance frameworks and regulations.
* Action Required: Coordinate across ministries and departments to ensure a unified approach to AI governance and continue to support the Advisory Group on AI.
Academia:
* Impact: Involved in research, development, and ethical considerations related to AI technologies.
* Action Required: Participate in the Advisory Group on AI, contribute to the development of AI standards, and continue RD in AI safety, security, and trust.
Industry:
* Impact: Subject to AI regulations and standards, responsible for ensuring the safety and ethical deployment of AI systems.
* Action Required: Participate in the Advisory Group on AI, adhere to developed AI standards, and contribute to the development of AI tools and frameworks.
Civil Society:
* Impact: Their input shapes the development of ethical AI frameworks and guidelines.
* Action Required: Continue to provide inputs in public consultations and participate in discussions regarding AI governance and ethical considerations.
Citizens:
* Impact: Protection of their rights and data privacy in the context of AI deployment.
* Action Required: No direct action specified, but are the ultimate beneficiaries of safe and responsible AI deployment.
Key Entities Referenced
Artificial Intelligence: A field of computer science focused on creating machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Advisory Group on AI: A group formed by the Government of India, chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, to develop an India-specific regulatory framework for Responsible AI.
IndiaAI: A national AI initiative by the Government of India, aiming to harness the potential of AI for social development and to achieve AI for ALL.
IndiaAI Safety Institute: An institute for AI safety, security, and developing trust with diverse stakeholders, as part of the IndiaAI initiative.
AI Impact Summit 2026: An upcoming summit in India, building on its role as co-chair of the Al Action Summit, to shape global AI discussions.
IITs: Indian Institutes of Technology, premier institutions where the Government is funding R&D projects related to AI.
TEC Standard No: TEC 57050:2023: A standard developed for Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial Intelligence Systems, particularly in telecommunications and related ICT applications.
ISISOIECTR 24368:2022: An Indian standard that provides a high-level overview of AI ethical and societal concerns and includes an overview of International Standards that address issues arising from AI ethical and societal concerns.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1800
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 30.07.2025
EVALUATION OF HIGH-IMPACT AI MODELS
1800. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government recognises the need to evolve a structured national framework for
Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety, reliability and responsible deployment;
(b) whether any expert or inter-ministerial group has been constituted to study global best practices
in AI oversight and recommend India-specific guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to introduce technical standards and institutional
mechanisms to evaluate high-impact AI models used in public-facing sectors; and
(d) whether the Government is likely to engage with academic, industry and civil society
stakeholders to co-develop protocols around explainability model evaluation and ethical
assurance?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d): The government has taken an inclusive and innovation-friendly approach to Artificial
Intelligence (AI) governance. It is backed by an institutional setup to protect citizens’ rights,
ensure data privacy, and promote innovation.
Advisory Group on AI
• The Government has formed an Advisory Group on AI, chaired by the Principal Scientific
Advisor to the Prime Minister, to develop an India-specific regulatory framework for
Responsible AI. Comprising stakeholders from academia, industry, and government, the
group aims to ensure safe and trusted AI development.
• The report on AI Governance Guidelines emphasizes the need for a coordinated, whole-
of-government approach to ensure effective compliance and enforcement as India’s AI
landscape continues to evolve. Given the evolving nature of AI technologies, the report
recommends adoption of a techno legal approach to AI regulation.
• Public consultation on the report on AI Governance Guidelines Development has been
completed and more than 100 suggestions have been received.
Expert Group Report
• Seven expert groups were constituted to collaboratively brainstorm on the vision,
objectives, outcomes, and design for each of India's AI pillars.
• The first edition of IndiaAI expert group report detailed out the objectives of the pillars of
IndiaAI and recommends the next action items involved in harnessing the potential of AI
for social development and achieving the goal of ‘AI for ALL’. A copy of the report is
available at https://indiaai.gov.in/news/indiaai-2023-expert-group-report-first-edition.Safe and trusted AI
• IndiaAI Safety Institute for AI safety, security, and developing trust with diverse
stakeholders
• Diverse stakeholders including academia, startups, industry & government bodies engage
through a hub-and-spoke model
• Tools and frameworks are being built around Responsible AI, with a focus on 10 themes
• 8 Responsible AI Projects underway covering Machine Unlearning, AI Bias Mitigation,
Privacy-Enhancing Tools, AI Governance Testing, etc.
• More projects on key themes like watermarking, ethical AI, risk assessment, stress testing,
and deepfake detection tools are also being evaluated
India is also hosting the Al Impact Summit in February 2026, building on its role as co chair of
the Al Action Summit and continuing its leadership in shaping global AI discussions.
Techno-legal approach to regulate AI
A key pillar of India’s AI strategy is its balanced and pragmatic techno-legal approach to
regulation:
• India is combining legal safeguards with technological solutions.
• The Government is funding R&D projects at premier institutions like IITs to build AI tools
for deepfake detection, privacy enhancement, and cybersecurity.
• This reflects India’s belief that effective AI governance must go beyond just legislation
and be backed by innovative technical interventions.
• This distinctive model ensures that innovation is not hampered
IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026
• As a part of preparation for the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, Government has conducted
public consultations to gather inputs from stakeholders across academia. international
orgnaisations, industry, startups, Think-Tanks and civil society. The insights are used to
shape the Summit’s agenda and ensure inclusive representation.
Initiatives w.r.t. Ethical AI Standards
• Developed a ‘Standard for Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial
Intelligence Systems’ (TEC Standard No: TEC 57050:2023). This standard provides a
framework and procedures for evaluating the fairness of AI systems, particularly in the
context of telecommunications and related ICT applications.
• Published an Indian standard IS/ISO/IEC/TR 24368:2022. It provides a high-level
overview of AI ethical and societal concerns. It includes an overview of International
Standards that address issues arising from AI ethical and societal concerns.
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