India’s AI governance framework bars unrestricted use of high-risk systems: Govt
Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada
New Delhi, December 20: India’s Artificial Intelligence governance framework does not permit unrestricted deployment of high-risk AI systems and incorporates safeguards to address risks to individuals and society, the government informed Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said the India AI Governance Guidelines, released on November 5, 2025, provide a comprehensive national framework to ensure the safe, responsible and inclusive development of AI in the country.
The minister said the government has adopted a balanced techno-legal approach to AI governance, combining legal safeguards with technological interventions rather than relying solely on legislation or market forces. India’s AI strategy, he said, has been shaped through extensive stakeholder consultations and a review of global regulatory frameworks.
According to the guidelines, AI is a key driver of economic growth and social transformation but also poses potential risks, including bias, discrimination, unfair outcomes, exclusion and lack of transparency. To address these concerns, the framework adopts a risk-based, evidence-led and proportionate approach to governance, with specific safeguards for high-risk AI applications.
The guidelines place responsibility for enforcement and oversight with existing sectoral regulators, operating within their respective legal mandates. They are principle-based and flexible in nature, aimed at supporting responsible AI adoption without stifling innovation.
Prasada said the framework does not introduce new statutory mechanisms such as independent audits, appeal processes or new oversight bodies. Instead, it relies on existing legal instruments, including the Information Technology Act, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and relevant sector-specific regulations.
The government has also been funding research and development at premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology to develop AI tools for areas including deepfake detection, privacy protection and cybersecurity. These technological solutions, the minister said, complement regulatory measures and reflect India’s belief that effective AI governance must be supported by practical technical interventions.
The guidelines state that a new horizontal AI law is not required at this stage, in line with the government’s current policy approach.
The minister said the overarching objective of India’s AI governance framework is to democratise the development and use of technology, ensuring that AI is deployed to solve real-world problems while safeguarding citizen trust, safety and rights.
