India AI Governance Guidelines
Also called: AI Governance Guidelines 2025 · Topic: Economic Data: Census, NSS, Surveys and Statistical Tools · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The India AI Governance Guidelines are the rules of approach for artificial intelligence (AI) that India released on 5 November 2025. They aim to make AI safe, trusted and centred on people. They are risk-based and proportionate: the bigger the possible harm, the stricter the control. They build on existing laws such as the IT Act instead of creating a separate AI Act. The guidelines treat children as a vulnerable group, meaning people who face greater long-term harm from AI. The nodal ministry, which is the ministry in charge, is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Example
India has no standalone AI law, so it tackles deepfakes (fake AI-made videos or images) through laws it already has. On 10 February 2026 the IT Rules, 2021 were amended to cover synthetically generated information, which means content made or changed by AI. Platforms must now block unlawful AI content and label permitted synthetic content with traceable metadata. Metadata is hidden information attached to a file that shows where it came from.
Don't confuse with
- IndiaAI Mission: this is India's programme to build AI capacity. The Guidelines set out how AI should be governed safely.
- A dedicated AI Act: the Guidelines are not a law passed by Parliament. Their duties come from existing laws such as the IT Act and its Rules.