India Positions Itself as Global Leader in Ethical AI Governance Framework

India Is Shaping a Global Framework for Human-Centric AI: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. During the address, he highlighted the country's role in shaping a global framework for what artificial intelligence (AI) should be and how it should function. He gave a call for "ethical and human-centric AI," and mentioned that the lawmakers are already working to create a governance policy regarding the same. Additionally, PM Modi also revealed that in February 2026, India will host the Global AI Summit. India Is Preparing the AI Governance Framework: PM Modi Addressing the attendees during the ESTIC 2025, PM Modi spoke about the government's focus on "ease of doing research" to enable and develop a modern ecosystem of innovation. To this end, he launched the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore. The scheme aims to promote a private sector-driven R&D ecosystem in India. PM Modi also shared his vision of AI technology, hailing its widespread application across retail, logistics, customer service, and education. He emphasised the need to understand the developing technology's transformative power and highlighted the need to ensure that it is used in an ethical and inclusive manner. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government is working on the AI Governance Framework, which will shape the general guidelines around the technology and will outline its opportunities and limitations. The policy is expected to arrive next year. "India is shaping a global framework for ethical and human-centric AI," he added. The conversation around AI is intensifying in the country, with Google recently announcing an investment of $15 billion (roughly Rs. 1.3 lakh crore) to set up an AI-focused data centre in Andhra Pradesh's port city, Visakhapatnam. A similar commitment has been made by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. Furthering the conversations around AI, PM Modi announced that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026. The focus of the summit will be on accelerating efforts towards inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI.

'India is shaping global framework for ethical and human-centric AI': PM Modi

Addressing the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, the Prime Minister emphasised that the government is working towards making AI accessible and beneficial for every segment of society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India is playing a leading role in shaping the global framework for ethical and human-centric artificial intelligence (AI). Addressing the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, the Prime Minister emphasised that the government is working towards making AI accessible and beneficial for every segment of society. PM Modi said, "Today, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is being used everywhere, from retail to logistics, from customer service to children's homework. Therefore, in India too, we are making the power of AI useful for every segment of society. More than Rs 10,000 crore is being invested in the India AI Mission." The Prime Minister further stated that when India hosts the Global AI Summit in February 2026, efforts for inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI will gain new momentum. "Today, India is shaping the global framework for ethical and human-centric AI. Our upcoming AI governance framework will be a major step in this direction. Its aim is to develop innovation and safety together. When India hosts the Global AI Summit in February next year, the efforts for inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI will gain new momentum. Now is the time to redouble our energy in emerging areas. This is also crucial for achieving our goal of a developed India," the PM said during the ESTIC 2025. Highlighting women's growing role in India's science and technology sector, PM Modi noted a sharp rise in participation over the past decade. "When we talk about India's space, Indian women scientists are discussed a lot. In patent filings, the number of women in this field annually was less than 100 a decade ago. Now, it has reached over 5,000 annually. The share of women in STEM education is about 43%, which is higher than the global average," he said. Noting that women in India are rapidly progressing in the field of science and technology, Prime Minister Modi recalled a moment and said, "I was in an elevator with the Science and Technology Minister of a developed country. He asked me - 'Do girls in India pursue science and technology?' When I told him about such numbers, he was shocked. This is what the daughters of India have achieved. These statistics show how rapidly women in India are progressing in the field of science and technology."