The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the IndiaAI Mission, has unveiled the India AI Governance Guidelines — a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring safe, inclusive, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors. The guidelines were launched by Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in the presence of Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY; Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, CEO IndiaAI Mission, and DG NIC; Ms Kavita Bhatia, Scientist ‘G’ and COO IndiaAI Mission; and Prof B. Ravindran of IIT Madras. Senior officials Dr Preeti Banzal and Dr Parvinder Maini from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser also participated. The launch marks a major milestone ahead of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, reinforcing India’s leadership in responsible AI governance. The new framework seeks to balance innovation with safety, establishing a governance mechanism for developing and deploying AI responsibly. It comprises four core components: Seven guiding principles (Sutras) for ethical AI. Key recommendations across six governance pillars. A structured action plan mapped to short, medium, and long-term timelines. Practical guidelines for developers, industry, and regulators to ensure transparency and accountability. Speaking at the launch, Shri S. Krishnan said, “Our focus remains on leveraging existing legislation wherever possible. Human centricity is at the core — ensuring AI serves humanity and enhances lives while addressing potential risks.” Prof Ajay Kumar Sood noted that the guiding principle of the framework is “Do No Harm.” He added, “We aim to create sandboxes for innovation while mitigating risks through a flexible, adaptive system. The IndiaAI Mission will inspire other nations, especially across the Global South.” Shri Abhishek Singh highlighted that the guidelines were drafted after extensive consultations. “The committee engaged in public deliberations, refined feedback, and crafted a balanced, forward-looking framework. The goal is to make AI accessible, affordable, and inclusive while ensuring safety, trust, and innovation,” he said. The guidelines were developed by a high-level committee chaired by Prof Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras, comprising experts from government, academia, and industry, including Ms Debjani Ghosh (NITI Aayog), Dr Kalika Bali (Microsoft Research India), Mr Rahul Matthan (Trilegal), Mr Sharad Sharma (iSPIRT Foundation), and officials from MeitY and the Department of Telecommunications. The document is envisioned as a foundational reference for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, fostering national and international cooperation for ethical, responsible, and inclusive AI deployment. Additionally, winners of the IndiaAI Hackathon for Mineral Targeting, organised under the Applications Development Pillar of the IndiaAI Mission with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), were announced. The hackathon aimed to use AI and machine learning for mineral exploration by analysing geological and remote-sensing data. Winners: First Prize (Rs 1 million): CricSM AI – Critical and Strategic Mineral Mapping with AI by Prof Partha Pratim Mandal and team. Second Prize (Rs 0.7 million): Knowledge and Data-Driven Mineral Targeting by Soumya Mitra and team. Third Prize (Rs 0.5 million): SUVARN – Semi-Unsupervised Value-Adaptive Artificial Resource Network by Sayantani Bhattacharya and team. Special Prize (Rs 0.5 million): AI–ML solution for identifying exploration areas for critical minerals by Deepa Kumari and team. The unveiling of the guidelines and hackathon results marks an important step in India’s journey toward fostering responsible, inclusive, and scalable AI innovation. The upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 19–20 February in New Delhi, will convene global leaders, policymakers, and researchers to discuss AI’s transformative potential in advancing people, planet, and progress.