India Unveils ‘Third Way’ AI Governance Model, Mandates Content Labeling at Delhi Summit
Updated (2 articles)
Delhi AI Impact Summit Brings Global Leaders Together The AI Impact Summit began on 18 February 2026 in Delhi, gathering heads of state, industry CEOs, and technology scholars to debate AI innovation and regulatory pathways [1]. Delegates exchanged views on balancing rapid AI diffusion with societal safeguards. The event underscores India’s role as a convenor for emerging‑economy perspectives on AI governance.
India Proposes Distinct ‘Third Way’ Model India introduced a governance framework that diverges from the EU’s compliance‑heavy regime, the United States’ laissez‑faire stance, and China’s state‑centered approach [1]. The “Third Way” leverages existing legal structures, promotes strategic autonomy, and encourages public‑private partnerships to serve the Global South. It seeks to pool research, safety assessments, and expertise among middle‑power nations.
Guidelines Emphasize Adoption, Diffusion, Diplomacy, Capacity‑Building The November 2025 guidelines outline four pillars: adoption of AI tools, diffusion across sectors, diplomatic engagement, and capacity‑building for stakeholders [1]. Target areas include healthcare, agriculture, education, and public administration, aiming for inclusive development. The framework remains agile to incorporate future technological evolutions.
February 10 Amendment Requires AI Content Labeling An amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, effective 10 February 2026, obliges platforms to label AI‑generated content and to remove harmful material within three hours [1]. This marks the first mandatory disclosure rule for AI‑produced information in India. Non‑compliance could trigger penalties under the amended code.
Next Year Tests India’s Balance of Innovation and Security The coming 12 months will assess India’s capacity to integrate the “Third Way” while protecting workers and preventing instability [1]. Success could position India as a hub for agile, collective AI governance. Gaps such as insufficient labor safeguards remain a concern for policymakers.
Related Tickers
Timeline
Nov 2025 – India releases AI governance guidelines that focus on adoption, diffusion, diplomacy, and capacity‑building, aiming to scale AI for inclusive development in healthcare, agriculture, education and public administration while using existing legal structures and staying agile for future evolution[1].
Dec 2025 – India continues to regulate AI primarily under the Information Technology Act and related rules, lacking a dedicated consumer‑safety regime for AI products or psychological harms, which critics say leaves “adjacently addressed risks” unmitigated[2].
Dec 2025 – China drafts rules to regulate emotionally interactive AI services, requiring companies to warn users about excessive use and to intervene when detecting extreme emotional states, a move framed as limiting psychological dependence but potentially enabling deeper user monitoring[2].
Feb 10, 2026 – The Indian government amends the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, mandating platforms to label AI‑generated content and to remove harmful material within three hours, marking the first disclosure requirement of its kind[1].
Feb 18, 2026 – The AI Impact Summit convenes in Delhi, bringing together world leaders and technology experts to discuss innovation and governance directions for artificial intelligence amid uncertainty about the best regulatory approach[1].
Feb 18, 2026 – India unveils a “Third Way” AI governance model that rejects the EU’s compliance‑heavy regime, the US’s hands‑off stance, and China’s centralized state model, emphasizing strategic autonomy, public‑private partnerships, and coordinated research among middle powers to counter concentration of AI investment in the Global North[1].
Feb 2026 – Feb 2027 – Over the next 12 months, India tests its ability to balance innovation, security and welfare under the new framework, seeking to become a hub for agile collective governance while addressing gaps such as insufficient worker protection that could otherwise create instability[1].
2026 onward – Policymakers recommend boosting compute access, expanding public procurement, and upskilling the workforce to develop a frontier‑model ecosystem in India, aiming to avoid dependence on external tech trajectories and to translate research into industry[2].