MANAV AI Doctrine

At a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly defined by geopolitical rivalry, market monopolies and opaque algorithms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unveiling of the MANAV Vision at Bharat Mandapam was not just another summit speech. It was a declaration of intent: India will not be a passive consumer of AI built elsewhere. It will shape a third path — transparent, accountable, human-centric — and offer it to the world. Addressing the AI Impact Summit plenary, with leaders such as Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and Anura Kumara Dissanayake in attendance, alongside global tech heavyweights like Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis, Modi framed the central dilemma of our times: “The real question is not what AI can do in the future, it is what we can do with AI in the present.” That distinction matters. Because today, AI is no longer merely a technology; it is power. The United States dominates AI through corporate giants and proprietary ecosystems. China pushes state-driven AI models deeply integrated with surveillance and strategic control, including platforms such as DeepSeek. The rest of the world risks becoming either a data colony or a regulatory afterthought. India’s response is the MANAV doctrine — Moral, Accountable, National, Accessible and Valid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MANAV AI Doctrine is not merely an acronym; it is a philosophical anchor. MANAV — meaning “human” — stands for Moral and ethical systems, Accountable governance, National sovereignty, Accessible and inclusive innovation, and Valid and legitimate frameworks. In essence, it asserts that artificial intelligence must remain human-centric in design, democratic in governance, and sovereign in data ownership. This is not rhetorical idealism. It is a strategic positioning. By anchoring AI in democratic accountability and inclusivity, India is crafting a framework that resonates far beyond its borders — particularly among developing nations wary of digital dependency. The presence of global leaders and CEOs was itself an acknowledgment that India is now central to the AI conversation. Modi’s assertion that India is “the centre of the world’s largest tech pool” is not hyperbole. With one of the largest STEM talent bases and a thriving startup ecosystem, India combines scale with affordability. Three Indian companies launching AI models at the summit was a signal: innovation is no longer imported; it is indigenous.

Crucially, France has emerged as a natural co-partner in this vision. France, under Emmanuel Macron, has consistently advocated digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy within Europe. Paris understands the risks of over-dependence on American Big Tech or Chinese state-tech ecosystems. A France–India AI partnership, therefore, is not transactional; it is civilisational. It blends Europe’s regulatory sophistication with India’s scale and technological dynamism. Such collaboration could reshape global AI governance norms. Imagine jointly developed frameworks on data localisation, algorithmic audits, ethical AI certification, and open innovation platforms tailored for the Global South. That would provide a credible alternative to both Silicon Valley’s corporate dominance and Beijing’s state-command model. Equally important is Modi’s emphasis on skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning. AI will disrupt labour markets. The choice before governments is stark: manage the transition or watch inequality explode. By positioning AI as a “global common good,” India is advocating shared technological upliftment rather than zero-sum competition. The strategic implications are profound. A transparent, accountable AI ecosystem led by India — with France as a co-architect — strengthens democratic technology alliances without necessarily alienating partners like the United States. In fact, it could complement existing collaborations while ensuring India retains technological sovereignty. The world is searching for balance in the AI age — between innovation and regulation, speed and safety, profit and purpose. MANAV offers that balance. It asserts that technology must serve humanity, not subsume it. If the 21st century is to be defined by artificial intelligence, then the defining question will be who sets its moral compass. With MANAV, India has made it clear: it intends not only to participate in the AI revolution, but to humanise it.