At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the MANAV vision, advocating for an ethical, human-centric artificial intelligence framework that prioritizes the Global South and collective societal welfare.

In a technological era where artificial intelligence threatens to outpace regulatory oversight, India has stepped forward with a philosophical and structural blueprint designed to anchor the digital revolution in human values. Speaking at the monumental India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated a comprehensive vision that seeks to democratize AI, ensuring it serves as a tool for universal empowerment rather than an engine for inequality.

For the Global South—and specifically for rapidly digitizing hubs like Kenya's Silicon Savannah—the declarations made in New Delhi are profoundly relevant. As East Africa grapples with the dual imperatives of adopting frontier technologies and protecting the data sovereignty of its citizens, the Indian paradigm offers a highly adaptable roadmap for equitable technological advancement.

The Core of the MANAV Framework

At the heart of the summit was the introduction of the MANAV framework, an acronym rooted in the Sanskrit word for “human.” This ambitious governance model is built upon five foundational pillars designed to govern the development and deployment of AI systems globally.

The framework encompasses Moral and Ethical Systems, demanding that algorithms operate within strict ethical boundaries. It calls for Accountable Governance, ensuring transparent oversight mechanisms. Crucially for developing nations, it champions National Sovereignty, asserting that data fundamentally belongs to the people who generate it. Furthermore, it demands Accessible and Inclusive innovation to prevent monopolistic control, and Valid and Legitimate deployment that strictly adheres to the rule of law.

• M: Moral and Ethical Systems guiding algorithmic behavior.
• A: Accountable Governance through transparent regulatory bodies.
• N: National Sovereignty ensuring citizens retain rights over their data.
• A: Accessible and Inclusive infrastructure that prevents tech monopolies.
• V: Valid and Legitimate systems that comply with international and local laws.

A Catalyst for the Global South

Prime Minister Modi was emphatic in his assertion that the benefits of artificial intelligence must not be hoarded by the industrialized North. He framed AI as a force multiplier for human intent, comparing its civilizational impact to the discovery of fire or electricity. However, he warned that without deliberate intervention, AI could exacerbate existing global economic divides.

“AI has to be democratized so that humans don't just become a data point for AI or remain a raw material,” Modi cautioned. By advocating for open platforms and shared knowledge, India is positioning itself as the technological champion of the Global South, offering an alternative to the highly proprietary models emerging from Silicon Valley and the state-controlled apparatuses of other global powers.

The East African Imperative

The reverberations of the MANAV vision are particularly potent for Kenya. Nairobi is currently navigating its own complex digital transformation, rolling out extensive digital public infrastructure while simultaneously establishing mechanisms like the National Carbon Registry.

The Indian principle of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' (Welfare for All, Happiness of All) aligns seamlessly with Kenya's bottom-up economic models. If Kenyan policymakers can adopt a similar human-centric approach, leveraging affordable computing power to empower small-scale farmers—much like the Indian AI assistant “Sarlaben” which supports millions of dairy farmers—the socio-economic dividends could be staggering.

Furthermore, the focus on data sovereignty provides a critical defensive mechanism for East African nations, protecting their citizens from algorithmic exploitation by foreign multi-nationals.

A Collaborative Future

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, attended by representatives from over 100 nations, was not merely a showcase of software; it was a diplomatic triumph. It established a new baseline for global digital cooperation.

As the world hurtles toward an automated future, the consensus from New Delhi is clear: the technology must serve the people. For emerging economies in Africa and beyond, the MANAV framework offers a powerful tool to ensure that the next chapter of human history is written with equity, dignity, and shared prosperity at its core.