India to Release Draft AI Consultation Paper Within a Month
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a draft consultation paper on AI regulation will be issued within weeks, launching a stakeholder feedback process to shape India's governance approach.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the draft AI consultation paper will be released within a month. The Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) made the announcement on October 8 at the NDTV World Summit 2026 in New Delhi, stating that industry and civil society consultations will follow.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said: "We will be issuing a consultation paper in the coming weeks." The announcement signals the government's move to address AI risks through a structured stakeholder process. It does not establish whether India will ultimately introduce standalone AI legislation.
Regulatory approach under existing IT Act
The draft AI regulations may be introduced under the existing Information Technology Act, 2000. Vaishnaw indicated this could be the chosen path rather than creating a new, dedicated law. This approach would leverage the current legal framework for digital governance.
Stakeholder engagement model
The Ministry has already consulted the tech industry. It will now seek feedback from civil society, citizens, and industry stakeholders through upcoming consultations. The exercise aims to gather opinions from citizens, businesses, industry representatives, and subject matter experts.
The government specifically seeks views from AI developers, businesses using AI, and citizens affected by AI. Sectors identified for rapid AI adoption include banking, manufacturing, services, insurance, and financial services. This consultation will help identify concerns and priorities for policymakers evaluating possible governance measures.
Global regulatory alignment push
Vaishnaw emphasized the need for global collaboration on AI regulation. He compared it to the nuclear industry's international governance model. He stated that AI regulation should involve global alignment, with top AI ecosystems and countries sitting together to establish fundamental principles.
Countries with major AI ecosystems need to work toward common principles for evaluating AI. This cooperation is necessary even while nations compete in the field.
Human safety and control priorities
Regulation must prioritize human safety. Vaishnaw highlighted that any framework must be human-centric and ensure human control over AI models, processes, and outcomes. He emphasized that people must retain control over AI models, autonomous agents, and their results.
He called for mechanisms to stop AI systems if they operate beyond human control. The consultation paper will be released within a month, initiating stakeholder feedback processes across industry and civil society.
