People-First Framework: Centre Chalks Out Inclusive Strategy With AI Governance Guidelines

Taking the lead, the Government of India (GoI) recently released the 'AI Governance Guidelines', focusing on trusted AI innovation.

The key objective of this endeavour is to ensure a seamless last-mile connectivity and impact — one that ensures benefits, satisfaction, and empowerment for every citizen of the country. It is an honest attempt to ensure that people embrace this technological innovation to address critical issues in their lives. It positions safety as the mantra of AI implementation.

It is truly pragmatic, as it recognises the pitfalls in implementing such a bold, diversified, multi-stakeholder policy. The document and its guiding principles provide a framework that would be resilient in the future for governance and institutional viability.

Keeping The AI Balance

At the same time, the model will ensure the balance between AI innovation, accountability, progress, and growth.

The guidelines are centred around the “People-First" approach, ensuring that the application is sectorally beneficial to the citizens; and, thereby, AI plays a key role in the path towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

The document also lays the framework for India to be a leading global player, conscious of the challenges confronting the governance model. The framework outlined in the document is an end-to-end approach. It follows the mantra of “Whole of Government Approach”, establishing a platform that believes in equity, inclusiveness, affordability, and accessibility. The framework is unique as it takes into account the diversity of the country by providing a foundation that addresses the needs of the people and the stakeholders alike. The objective is to build an ethical and technical framework that internalises the “Idea of India” in its march towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

The “Guiding Principles or Sutras” of the guidelines are: Trust is the foundation of the entire approach; it underscores the need for systems that citizens can rely on without hesitation. The philosophy of "People-First" calls for a human-centric design that prioritises user experience and societal impact. The policy places innovation over restraint, encouraging responsible innovation that does not stifle creativity, but instead channels it for meaningful outcomes.

Fairness and equity remain at the heart of the policy, ensuring that AI benefits reach every section of society, and that no one is left behind in this technological shift. The principle of accountability strengthens this promise by making sure responsibilities are clearly defined at every stage of the AI lifecycle, so that citizens know who is answerable for what.

AI That Is Easy To Access 

The framework also emphasises the need for AI systems to be easy to understand, designed in a way that users, regulators, and citizens can navigate without confusion.

And, ultimately, the policy anchors itself in safety, resilience, and sustainability, building AI systems that can withstand shocks, adapt to new challenges, and continue serving people reliably even in moments of uncertainty.

AI Summit 2026

The upcoming India AI Summit 2026 will be the moment when India turns global conversations into concrete action. Rather than simply participating in the worldwide dialogue on AI governance, India wants to help shape it, offering a vision that is practical, inclusive, and deeply connected to the country’s own developmental journey.

The Summit’s broader mission ties directly with India’s goal of building one of the world’s most people-centric and widely accessible AI ecosystems.

The event will centre around three simple but powerful pillars:

• talent,
• technology,
• trust

On talent, India is focusing on preparing its people for the future, expanding AI skilling across universities, technical institutes, and vocational platforms so learners, at every level, can access emerging opportunities. On technology, the Summit will spotlight how AI can work hand-in-hand with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, making everyday services more multilingual, secure, and accessible.

A major focus will also be on the safe and responsible use of frontier AI models. Strengthening oversight, improving evaluation methods, and developing harmonised safety standards are key steps India plans to take as part of its forward-looking governance blueprint.

At the same time, the Summit hopes to move AI innovation beyond the big metros by supporting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as new hubs for experimentation, research, and entrepreneurship.

On the global stage, India plans to champion cross-border testbeds and stronger partnerships across the Global South, creating shared spaces to build, test, and deploy trusted AI solutions. The Summit will also look at how AI can help governments work more efficiently. 

The India AI Summit 2026 aims to chart a path that is both ambitious and grounded. It reflects a belief that AI must always be used in ways that uplift people, strengthen communities, and support India’s long-term aspiration of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

(The writer is a retired civil servant. Views are personal.)