PM outlines ethics-led framework at India AI Impact Summit 2026
February 19, 2026: Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled India’s “MANAV Vision for AI” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, describing it as a people-first doctrine for the artificial intelligence era. Presenting MANAV—meaning “human”—as an acronym, he said it stands for Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive, and Valid and Legitimate frameworks. The Prime Minister stressed that AI development must remain rooted in ethics, accountability and national interest, calling the framework vital for safeguarding humanity in a technology-driven century.
At the core of the vision is a strong emphasis on democratising AI and preventing individuals from being reduced to mere data points. Modi argued that artificial intelligence must empower, not exclude, particularly in the Global South. He highlighted data sovereignty under the principle “whose data, his right,” signalling India’s continued push for greater control over digital resources. Drawing an analogy with GPS navigation, he said AI should have “an open sky” for innovation, but humans must retain command over its direction.
The Prime Minister also called for global standards to address the growing trust deficit in digital ecosystems, warning about the dangers of deepfakes and synthetic media. He urged the embedding of authenticity labels, watermarking and clear-source standards directly into AI systems to preserve public trust. With the MANAV Vision, Modi positioned India as a key voice in shaping global AI governance—not just as a technological race, but as a moral and regulatory challenge for the 21st century.