What Is ‘MANAV’ Vision? PM Modi Unveils Framework At India AI Impact Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled India's "MANAV Vision" for artificial intelligence while addressing delegates at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, outlining a framework that links emerging technology with ethical responsibility, governance and inclusive growth.

The global gathering has drawn policymakers, researchers, technology leaders, academics and civil society representatives to the national capital for discussions on how artificial intelligence should shape economies and societies in the coming years.

What 'MANAV' stands for

In his address, the Prime Minister explained that "MANAV" is an acronym intended to guide the development and deployment of AI systems.

M: Moral and Ethical System
A: Accountable Governance
N: National Sovereignty
A: Accessible and Inclusive
V: Valid and Legitimate

The framework places ethical use and institutional accountability at the centre of technological progress, while also emphasising accessibility and legitimacy in AI adoption across nations.

Call to democratise artificial intelligence

Speaking to delegates, Modi stressed that advanced technologies should not remain limited to a handful of countries or corporations.

"We must democratise AI. It must become a medium for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South," he said.

He noted that while some nations remain cautious about artificial intelligence, India sees the technology as an engine of opportunity.

"Some people see fear in AI, but India sees fortune and future in it," Modi said during Day 4 of the summit at Bharat Mandapam.

AI as a historic turning point

Drawing comparisons with transformative moments in human history, the Prime Minister described artificial intelligence as a development that could reshape national trajectories.

"There have been certain turning points that have shaped entire countries. These turning points set the direction of civilisation and transform the pace of development. Artificial intelligence is one such transformation in history," he said.

He also emphasised that AI should enhance human capability rather than replace it.

"AI is making machines intelligent and, at the same time, it is multiplying human capabilities many times over," he said. "The real question today is not what AI can do, but what humans can do with it."

Global participation and summit focus

The five day India AI Impact Summit, running from February 16 to 20, aims to explore how artificial intelligence can help address worldwide challenges while supporting shared economic growth. The event is structured around three guiding pillars, described as People, Planet and Progress.

During the summit, Modi joined global technology leaders including Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Alexandr Wang, Meta's chief AI officer, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for a group photograph in New Delhi.