The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will release a consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulation within one month, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced during the launch of the World Development Report 2026. The paper will focus on safety, inclusivity, and the societal impacts of AI, marking a key step in India’s approach to governing emerging technologies, according to medianama.com.
Vaishnaw outlined five priorities for the upcoming consultation paper: safety related to AI use, a human-first approach, scaling AI technologies, ensuring no person is left behind to promote inclusivity, and addressing harms from AI-generated deepfakes. He emphasized that the regulation would prioritize safety as the most important aspect and highlighted the need to democratize AI in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, as reported by medianama.com.
The move comes amid growing global concerns about AI’s societal risks, including misinformation from deepfakes. India’s approach aims to balance innovation with safeguards, reflecting a shift from earlier positions that focused more on AI promotion. The consultation paper will contribute to shaping regulatory frameworks that address both technological advancement and ethical considerations, aligning with international trends in AI governance, medianama.com noted.
The consultation paper’s release is expected by early November 2026, with MeitY inviting stakeholders to participate in shaping AI policy. This initiative follows increased governmental focus on AI’s impact on society and economy, setting the stage for formal regulations that could influence AI development and deployment across India.