India is actively developing a balanced regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to foster innovation while putting in place essential safeguards, Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S Krishnan said on 19 July. Speaking from New Delhi, Krishnan confirmed that India is drawing lessons from global regulatory approaches — including those of the United States and the European Union — as it charts its own course on AI governance.

India's Regulatory Stance

Krishnan was unequivocal that India will not simply replicate existing models. The government has ruled out adopting the EU's comprehensive AI Act wholesale, as well as the relatively lighter-touch approach the US initially favoured. Instead, policymakers are working towards a framework tailored to India's needs — one that addresses risks posed by frontier AI models while preserving enough flexibility for startups, research institutions, and innovation-led enterprises.

'Our response has to be a well-calibrated set of rules. We need safeguards and guardrails that AI platforms must follow, but at the same time regulation shouldn't stifle innovation,' Krishnan said.

Shifting Global Consensus on AI Regulation

Krishnan pointed to a notable shift in the global debate. The United States, once the loudest opponent of AI regulation, has moved to restrict access to certain frontier models — a development he cited as evidence of how rapidly thinking on AI governance is evolving worldwide.

'Globally, there's a belief that AI needs to be regulated. The loudest voice against AI regulation was from the US, but today they're regulating access to certain frontier models. That itself shows how the thinking has evolved,' he noted.

India's International Engagements

India has been an active participant in international AI governance discussions. Krishnan confirmed engagements with the EU and the US-led Pax Silica initiative, where key issues such as AI infrastructure, access to computing resources, and responsible AI development are on the agenda.

'We're part of various global fora looking at these issues and we've exchanged notes with countries and blocs including the EU and Pax Silica on what AI regulation could look like,' he said. This comes amid India simultaneously scaling its domestic AI ecosystem through the IndiaAI Mission, strengthening public computing infrastructure, and encouraging indigenous AI model development.

The Challenge of Regulating a Fast-Moving Technology

Krishnan acknowledged that the pace of AI advancement makes legislation uniquely difficult to design. 'The law has to keep pace with technology. That's a fine line we need to tread and designing such a framework is a challenge. It will take some time,' he said.

Notably, this is not just India's challenge — regulators across the world are grappling with the same tension between enabling technological progress and preventing potential harms from powerful AI systems. India's measured approach signals a preference for proportionality over precaution.

What Comes Next

No firm timeline has been announced for the release of a draft AI regulatory framework. The government's signals suggest a phased, consultative process rather than a rushed legislative push. With the IndiaAI Mission already operational and global AI governance norms still in flux, India's framework will likely evolve alongside — rather than ahead of — international consensus.