Advocating for Global AI Governance: Insights from the Trust and Safety India Festival 2025
On October 7, 2025, India’s External Affairs Minister highlighted the nation’s ongoing commitment to global Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance during the inaugural session of the Trust and Safety India Festival 2025. He emphasized the importance of AI in advancing sustainable development goals and promoting an inclusive approach to technology.
India’s Role in Global AI Governance
The Minister remarked, “We in India, we have consistently advocated for global AI governance and the shaping of an international agenda.” This assertion was substantiated by India’s efforts during its G20 Presidency, where it strongly advocated for the use of AI to advance Sustainable Development Goals, while emphasizing the need for trust, safety, fairness, and accountability in AI applications.
As a founding member of the Global Partnership on AI, India has played a pivotal role in promoting the New Delhi Declarations, which focus on responsible and inclusive AI. The Minister noted India’s participation in significant international AI events, including the AI Summits in Bletchley Park and Seoul, and co-chairing the Paris AI-Action Summit last year. Looking ahead, the upcoming AI-Impact Summit in 2026 is set to further this agenda with a focus on tangible impacts.
Addressing AI Concerns
During the festival, the Minister also addressed pressing concerns surrounding AI, including bias, ethics, privacy, and vulnerability. He underscored the necessity for a global discourse to tackle these challenges effectively. “This is an endeavor whose success depends on our ability to ensure multi-stakeholdership,” he stated, highlighting the importance of inclusive participation in shaping AI governance.
The Importance of the TASI Festival
The Trust and Safety India Festival serves as a platform to promote a strong, inclusive, and people-centric approach to AI governance. The Minister’s remarks at the festival reinforced India’s dedication to fostering AI that is trustworthy, safe, fair, and accountable.
Upcoming Initiatives: The India – AI Impact Summit 2026
Announced during the France AI Action Summit, the India – AI Impact Summit is scheduled for February 19-20, 2026, in New Delhi. This ambitious gathering aims to build on existing global momentum by focusing on leveraging AI to promote positive human development, environmental sustainability, and equitable progress worldwide.
The summit’s core objectives include:
- Bridging the Global AI Divide: Through concrete multilateral actions, the summit aims to ensure that AI’s transformative potential strengthens communities and protects the planet.
- Democratizing Access to AI Resources: Emphasizing the need to advance innovation that reflects diverse local contexts.
- Embedding Environmental Priorities: Integrating environmental considerations into AI design and models.
- Amplifying the Voice of the Global South: Ensuring that technological advancements and opportunities are shared broadly, rather than concentrated in a few regions.
In conclusion, India’s proactive stance on global AI governance and its efforts to promote a responsible and inclusive AI framework reflects a commitment to harnessing technology for the greater good. The initiatives discussed at the Trust and Safety India Festival and the upcoming AI Impact Summit stand as a testament to this commitment.
