Archive · 8 Oct 2026
India to Release AI Regulation Consultation Paper Within a Month
India plans to publish a paper about how artificial intelligence should be governed within a month.
The paper will ask people and groups to share their views before the government shapes its rules.
The government wants to look at safety, cybersecurity and harms such as deepfakes.
Deepfakes are altered or created media that can make people believe something untrue.
The minister also raised concerns about psychological risks.
He said people should stay at the centre of decisions about AI, and everyone should have a chance to benefit from it.
That includes helping people learn skills they may need as AI spreads.
He said companies should take primary responsibility for risks, while technology and laws should work together.
Reports also described possible AI uses in farming, health and education.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government will issue an AI regulation consultation paper within a month and invite stakeholder feedback.
The paper is intended to inform India's future AI regulatory framework, with safety, cybersecurity, deepfakes and other potential harms among its concerns.
Vaishnaw said the approach should keep people at its centre, build skills and ensure AI benefits all sections of society.
He called for a techno-legal approach, saying AI cannot be governed by law alone and that industry should take primary responsibility for managing risks.
Other remarks in the reports cited AI applications in farming, healthcare and education, alongside proposals to develop AI-focused curricula.
- Who
- Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Indian government; reports also quote MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan.
- What
- The government plans to release an AI regulation consultation paper and seek feedback to help shape future regulation.
- When
- Within a month of Vaishnaw's announcement; reports date his remarks to October 8 or Thursday, October 8.
- Where
- At an event associated with the release or launch of the World Development Report; one report describes it as a MeitY-World Bank report launch.
- Why
- To gather views and help develop an approach to AI governance addressing safety, deepfakes, cybersecurity, other potential harms and inclusive access to AI's benefits.
Government guardrails and public safeguards
Industry-led responsibility and flexible rules
Who should manage AI risks
Government guardrails and public safeguards
The government intends to consult stakeholders and use the paper to shape regulation and safeguards for safety and potential harms.
Industry-led responsibility and flexible rules
Vaishnaw said industry should carry primary responsibility; S. Krishnan also described voluntary codes and industry-led rules working alongside government guardrails.
How AI should be governed
Government guardrails and public safeguards
The consultation will consider a regulatory framework, including protections against deepfakes and other risks.
Industry-led responsibility and flexible rules
Vaishnaw said law alone cannot regulate AI and called for a techno-legal approach; Krishnan stressed flexible, globally considered regulation and said restricting a model between countries is not regulation.
- Planned release
- Within a month of the announcement; some reports call it next month.
- Purpose
- The paper will seek stakeholder views and form the basis for future AI regulation.
- Issues identified
- AI safety, deepfakes, cybersecurity, user harm and psychological risks.
- Stated priorities
- A human-first approach, skilling and ensuring all sections of society benefit.
- Proposed approach
- Vaishnaw called for a techno-legal solution combining technology and regulation.
- Industry role
- Vaishnaw said industry should take primary responsibility for managing AI-related risks.
- Applications mentioned
- Reports cited AI initiatives in agriculture, healthcare and education; one report relayed Vaishnaw's claim of around 40% higher crop yield in an experiment, with reduced water and fertilizer use.
Sources
Govt Plans To Release Consultation Paper On AI Regulation Within A Month
Centre to release draft AI regulations, says IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Government To Release AI Regulation Consultation Paper Within A Month
India’s AI regulation plan: What the government’s consultation paper will focus on
Government To Release AI Consultation Paper Within A Month: Ashwini Vaishnaw