India Bars Unrestricted Use of High-Risk AI Systems
AI governance guidelines stress safeguards, risk-based oversight and responsible innovation
- High-risk AI systems cannot be deployed without safeguards
- India adopts a risk-based, evidence-led AI governance model
- Existing laws to regulate AI; no separate AI law for now
- Focus on innovation with safety, privacy and citizen trust
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Dec: The Government of India has clarified that the India AI Governance Guidelines do not permit unrestricted deployment of high-risk artificial intelligence systems, outlining safeguards to protect individuals and society while enabling innovation.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada said the guidelines, released on November 5, 2025, provide a comprehensive national framework for the safe, responsible and inclusive development of AI in the country.
The minister said India has adopted a balanced techno-legal approach to AI governance, shaped through global study and extensive stakeholder consultations. Rather than relying solely on legislation, the framework combines legal safeguards with technological solutions, including government-funded R&D projects at institutions such as IITs for deepfake detection, privacy protection and cybersecurity.
The guidelines recognise AI as a major driver of economic growth and social transformation but also flag risks such as bias, discrimination, unfair outcomes, exclusion and lack of transparency. To address these concerns, they adopt a risk-based, evidence-led and proportional governance approach, clearly stating that high-risk AI systems cannot be deployed without adequate safeguards.
Enforcement and oversight will remain with existing sectoral regulators under their respective legal mandates. The guidelines are principle-based and flexible, aimed at encouraging responsible AI adoption without stifling innovation.
The government has clarified that no new statutory mechanisms or a separate horizontal AI law are required at this stage. Instead, the framework relies on existing laws, including the Information Technology Act, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and sector-specific regulations, in line with India’s broader digital governance strategy.
