India Fast-Tracks AI Regulation Blueprint Focused on Safety and Deepfakes

India Shifts Toward Formal AI Governance

India is accelerating its approach to artificial intelligence oversight with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing that a consultation paper on AI regulation will be released within one month1

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. Speaking at a World Bank group event, Vaishnaw declared that "the time has come for AI regulations," signaling a notable departure from the government's historically cautious stance on regulating emerging technologies4

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. This marks a significant policy evolution for MeitY, which as recently as December 2025 suggested relying on existing frameworks like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act rather than introducing standalone AI legislation5

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AI Safety and Deepfakes Take Center Stage

The forthcoming consultation paper will prioritize AI safety as its cornerstone, according to Vaishnaw, who emphasized that "safety related to AI use" represents the most critical aspect of the proposed framework2

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. Mitigating harms such as deepfakes emerged as a particular area of concern, with the minister describing them as a "nuisance which can cause huge problems in society"2

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. He noted that the quality of deepfakes is improving daily, leading people to believe false narratives and potentially engage in harmful behaviors. The framework will also address AI hallucinations, mental health impacts, user harm, and cybersecurity challenges3

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Techno-Legal Framework Emphasizes Industry Responsibility

Vaishnaw stressed that India's approach will combine technological and legal solutions rather than relying solely on legislation. "We have always maintained that AI and technologies cannot be regulated just by having a law. We have to bring a techno-legal solution," he stated2

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. The minister made clear that industry must shoulder primary responsibility for addressing issues including cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders, and misinformation2

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. This techno-legal framework for AI will require bringing stakeholders on board, though it remains unclear whether the consultations will be public or limited to selected industry participants5

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Human-Centric Approach and Inclusivity Drive Policy

The consultation paper will incorporate a human-centric approach, with Vaishnaw emphasizing that "humanity has to be the most important part of change that has happened"1

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. The framework will focus on inclusivity, skilling, and ensuring no person is left behind as AI technologies proliferate1

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. The minister highlighted that democratization of AI access, as guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be a core principle of the regulatory approach5

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Government Accelerates AI Infrastructure and Empanelment

Alongside the regulatory framework, the government is advancing its AI infrastructure capabilities. MeitY will initiate an empanelment process for AI models eligible for government use, allowing selected firms and startups to participate in official tenders once approved3

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. The government has prepared a three-to-four-year roadmap for GPU-based AI inference that will be made public in coming months3

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. MeitY Secretary S Krishnan revealed that contracts for over 3,000 GPUs were issued last week through the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, with demand estimates reaching 10,000 GPUs3

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Indigenous GPU Manufacturing and International Partnerships

India is clearing the path for indigenous GPU manufacturing designed specifically for running pre-trained AI models and inference stages, reducing reliance on globally sourced hardware3

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. A significant boost came through a term sheet signed during Prime Minister Modi's recent UAE visit, securing approximately 10,000 GPUs. Under this agreement, the UAE is gifting India an 8-exaflop AI supercomputer called Condor Galaxy India, built by Abu Dhabi-based G42 in partnership with Cerebras Systems, C-DAC, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI3

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Institutional Mechanisms Already in Motion

The AI Governance and Economic Group was established in April 2026 as a central institutional mechanism for coordinating AI policy, though it operates without the independent regulatory bodies initially proposed in AI governance guidelines5

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. In July 2026, MeitY began hiring for the Director of its IndiaAI Safety Institute under the IndiaAI Mission5

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. This infrastructure positions India to implement formal AI governance in India once the consultation paper shapes the final regulatory framework. Watch for the consultation paper's release in the coming weeks, which will determine how India balances innovation with oversight in one of the world's fastest-growing AI ecosystems.