India–AI Impact Summit 2026: Global Leaders Gather in New Delhi to Shape Inclusive AI Future

India–AI Impact Summit 2026: Global Leaders Gather in New Delhi to Shape Inclusive AI Future

CNB World Times

New Delhi | 17 February 2026: The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam on 16 February 2026. The Summit marks the first major global AI gathering hosted in the Global South, reinforcing India’s leadership in responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence.

Massive Global Participation

 Over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders are participating.

 Policymakers, technology firms, academia, startups, and industry leaders are part of the discussions.

 More than 700 proposals were received for thematic sessions.

 The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a key address on 19 February, focusing on global cooperation and inclusive AI.

Vision: AI for Viksit Bharat@2047

Artificial Intelligence is positioned as a key enabler of India’s development journey under:

 IndiaAI Mission

 Digital India

The Summit emphasizes translating global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes.

Three Foundational Sutras

The Summit is anchored on three guiding principles:

1. People – Empowering citizens through AI-driven healthcare, education, and financial inclusion.

2. Planet – Promoting sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental responsibility.

3. Progress – Strengthening governance, service delivery, and digital innovation.

Seven Chakras Driving AI Collaboration

The Summit’s discussions are structured around seven thematic “Chakras”:

1. Human Capital – AI skilling and workforce readiness.

2. Inclusion for Social Empowerment – Citizen-centric AI solutions.

3. Safe and Trusted AI – Governance and ethical AI frameworks.

4. Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency – Sustainable AI systems.

5. Science – AI-driven research in health, agriculture, and climate.

6. Democratizing AI Resources – Expanding access to compute and datasets.

7. AI for Economic Growth & Social Good – Promoting inclusive growth models.

AI Transforming Key Sectors

1. Healthcare

 AI-powered diagnostics for TB and cancer detection.

 Telemedicine and remote consultations for rural areas.

 Predictive analytics for disease outbreak forecasting.

2. Agriculture & Rural Economy

 AI-based weather and pest predictions.

 Drone monitoring and satellite crop analysis.

 Platforms like Kisan E-Mitra offering localized advisories.

3. Education & Learning

 Personalized AI-based learning tools.

 Language translation to regional languages.

 AI-enabled platforms such as DIKSHA improving content accessibility.

4. Finance & Commerce

 Real-time fraud detection.

 AI-based credit scoring for financial inclusion.

 Banking chatbots for faster services.

5. Governance & Public Services

 AI-assisted translation of court judgments.

 Smart city traffic and waste management systems.

 Faster processing of government schemes and applications.

Regional & Pre-Summit Engagements

 Eight Regional AI Conferences held across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Telangana.

 Pre-Summit consultations involved governments, startups, academia, and civil society.

AI Compendium

 To be released on 17 February 2026.

 Documents real-world AI case studies across priority sectors.

 Serves as a knowledge resource for continued collaboration.

Flagship Global Impact Challenges

The Summit features three major global challenges with over 4,650 applications from 60+ countries:

 AI for ALL – In partnership with Startup India, awards up to INR 2.5 crore.

 AI by HER – In collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform, promoting women-led AI innovation.

 YUVAi – Youth AI challenge for ages 13–21, implemented with National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, offering prizes up to INR 85 lakh.

70 finalists will showcase their innovations at the Grand Finale.

Research & Industry Platforms

 Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact with IIIT Hyderabad as knowledge partner.

 Around 250 global research submissions from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

 Participation of leaders including H.E. Alar Karis, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Shri Jitin Prasada.

India AI Impact Expo 2026

 Organized by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

 Hosted across 70,000+ sq. metres.

 Over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries.

 More than 10 thematic pavilions showcasing AI deployment at scale.

Key Institutional Support

 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology – Policy leadership and coordination.

 IndiaAI Mission – AI compute, datasets, skilling, and indigenous model development.

 Software Technology Parks of India – Startup ecosystem support.

 Digital India – Digital governance framework for AI adoption.

Expected Outcomes

 Stronger AI governance and regulatory frameworks.

 Increased regional preparedness for AI-led growth.

 Skill development and workforce transition.

 Greater global collaboration and knowledge exchange.

 Positioning India as a global hub for responsible and development-oriented AI.

Conclusion

The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 represents a major step toward transforming AI from policy dialogue into practical deployment. Anchored in the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, the Summit reinforces India’s commitment to inclusive, ethical, and innovation-driven artificial intelligence. By bringing together global leaders, innovators, and institutions, the Summit strengthens India’s role as a leading voice in shaping the future of AI for collective global benefit.