PM Narendra Modi launches ‘MANAV Vision’ to anchor India’s human-centric AI push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled "MANAV — India’s Human Vision for Artificial Intelligence" at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, placing the framework at the centre of India’s approach to global AI governance and development.

Positioning the announcement as India’s contribution to shaping responsible AI worldwide, Modi said the framework would ensure that technology evolves with strong ethical guardrails, inclusive access and accountable governance.

Introducing the initiative, he said, “Today, I present M-A-N-A-V — the Human Vision for AI.”

Explaining the acronym, the Prime Minister outlined four pillars:

M – Moral and ethical systems

A – Accountable governance

N – National sovereignty

A – Accessible and inclusive systems

V – Valid and legitimate frameworks

He added that AI should not become a monopoly but a multiplier accessible to all, and must remain lawful, verifiable and trustworthy.

India positions itself at the centre of global AI conversation

Opening the summit, Modi described the gathering as a landmark global event and emphasised India’s growing influence in the technology ecosystem.

“Welcome to the world’s largest AI Impact Summit. This summit represents India’s one-sixth of humanity,” he said, highlighting the country’s demographic scale and digital growth. He noted that India has the world’s largest youth population and one of the biggest tech talent pools, making it a natural hub for AI innovation.

The summit brought together leaders and representatives from more than 100 countries. Modi said the event was a matter of pride for the Global South and reflected the rising role of emerging economies in shaping the future of technology.

He also highlighted the role of young innovators, saying “The world’s youth is accepting AI with speed and confidence and taking ownership of it.”He pointed to applications across agriculture, security, public services and multilingual communication as examples of AI’s growing impact.

AI as a historic turning point

Framing AI as a transformative moment in human history, Modi compared the technology to past breakthroughs that reshaped civilisation.

“In human history, certain turning points reset the direction of development,”** he said, adding that the full impact of such innovations often becomes clear only in hindsight.

“The impact we see today is only the beginning. This time the speed is faster and the scale is unprecedented.”

He stressed that while AI is making machines more intelligent, it is also expanding human capability. But the central challenge, he said, lies in how humanity chooses to use the technology.

“The real question is not what artificial intelligence can do in the future. The question is what we choose to do with artificial intelligence.”

From machine-centric to human-centric AI

The Prime Minister warned that transformative technologies bring both opportunity and risk, drawing a comparison with nuclear power.

“We have seen nuclear technology’s destruction and its contribution to humanity. AI is also a transformative power," he said. He emphasised the need to ensure the technology remains human-centric rather than machine-centric

He added that India’s guiding philosophy for AI is rooted in welfare and inclusion.

“A person should not become just a data point or raw material,” Modi said, calling for the democratisation of AI so that it becomes a tool for empowerment.

Using a simple analogy, he explained the balance between technological capability and human control. “Like GPS shows the path, but we choose the direction.

“India’s MANAV Vision will become a vital foundation for AI in the 21st century,”he said, signalling India’s ambition to play a leading role in shaping the future of responsible artificial intelligence.