India’s government plans to issue a consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulation within a month, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Thursday, October 8, 2026, at an event marking the release of the World Development Report. The paper will seek public and stakeholder views on how AI should be governed and will form the basis for later regulation. Vaishnaw asked the department to prepare a regulation-focused paper with safety as its most important concern.

Vaishnaw said the proposed framework would examine AI safety, deepfakes (synthetic media made to resemble real people or events) and a human-first approach. He described deepfakes as a nuisance that can cause major social problems, saying people believe them and may be drawn into false narratives or harmful actions. He added that the quality of deepfakes is improving every day.

The consultation paper is also expected to address skilling, safety and ensuring no one is left behind as AI advances. Vaishnaw said humanity must remain central to the changes brought by AI. He argued that legislation alone cannot govern the technology, calling for a combination of technology and regulation, described as a “techno-legal solution,” and said stakeholders would need to be involved.

Vaishnaw said industry should take primary responsibility for handling AI-related risks, including cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders and deepfakes. The government plans to use feedback on the consultation paper to shape the regulatory framework, then move forward with regulation, he said. The article provides no proposed rules or enforcement timetable beyond the paper’s planned release within a month.

The minister’s remarks were reported by PTI. At the event, he framed the consultation process as a way to gather views on governance before the government proceeds with regulation; the paper itself was not yet released when he spoke.

India’s government plans to issue a consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulation within a month, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Thursday, October 8, 2026, at an event marking the release of the World Development Report. The paper will seek public and stakeholder views on how AI should be governed and will form the basis for later regulation. Vaishnaw asked the department to prepare a regulation-focused paper with safety as its most important concern.

Vaishnaw said the proposed framework would examine AI safety, deepfakes (synthetic media made to resemble real people or events) and a human-first approach. He described deepfakes as a nuisance that can cause major social problems, saying people believe them and may be drawn into false narratives or harmful actions. He added that the quality of deepfakes is improving every day.

The consultation paper is also expected to address skilling, safety and ensuring no one is left behind as AI advances. Vaishnaw said humanity must remain central to the changes brought by AI. He argued that legislation alone cannot govern the technology, calling for a combination of technology and regulation, described as a “techno-legal solution,” and said stakeholders would need to be involved.

Vaishnaw said industry should take primary responsibility for handling AI-related risks, including cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders and deepfakes. The government plans to use feedback on the consultation paper to shape the regulatory framework, then move forward with regulation, he said. The article provides no proposed rules or enforcement timetable beyond the paper’s planned release within a month.

The minister’s remarks were reported by PTI. At the event, he framed the consultation process as a way to gather views on governance before the government proceeds with regulation; the paper itself was not yet released when he spoke.