India-AI Impact Summit 2026
India-AI Impact Summit 2026
Key Takeaways
*The numbers are tentative and subject to revisions.
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key enabler of India’s development journey, strengthening governance and transforming public service delivery in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. Underscoring India’s commitment to responsible and inclusive AI, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 on 16 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders. Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative. On 19 February, On 19 February, the Hon’ble Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India’s vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.
Significance of AI for India
AI has emerged as a transformative force with the potential to accelerate India’s economic growth, strengthen governance and improve the quality of life of citizens, anchored in the principles of People, Planet, and Progress. For People, AI-enabled solutions are empowering citizens by expanding healthcare access through telemedicine and diagnostics, personalizing education through adaptive learning, and securing financial systems through fraud detection. For the Planet, AI is enabling smarter and more sustainable practices in agriculture through crop prediction, precision farming, and drone-based monitoring. For Progress, AI is strengthening governance through language translation of court judgments, improving service delivery, and enhancing everyday efficiency through applications in food delivery, mobility, and personalized digital services, reflecting a shift towards inclusive and accessible technology for both rural and urban India.
Recognising the strategic importance of AI, the Government of India has accorded high priority to building a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem. Initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission, development of AI compute infrastructure, promotion of indigenous AI models, and large-scale capacity-building programmes are laying a strong foundation for responsible and trusted AI adoption in the country.
Further, the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 will focus on strengthening global collaboration, promoting responsible and ethical AI, and accelerating AI adoption across priority sectors of the economy. The Summit is expected to play a catalytic role in positioning India as a global hub for AI innovation and deployment, aligned with the vision of a digitally empowered and technology-driven India.
Foundational Pillars: The Three Sutras and Seven Chakras Driving Global Collaboration of AI Impact
The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to advance an impact-oriented and people-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence, with emphasis on delivering measurable social and economic outcomes. The Summit is anchored on three foundational pillars, known as ‘Sutras’—a Sanskrit term meaning guiding principles or essential threads that weave together wisdom and action. These Sutras define how AI can be harnessed through multilateral cooperation for collective benefit.
Building on the three foundational Sutras, the deliberations at the AI Impact Summit is structured around 7 Chakras. These Chakras represent key areas of multilateral cooperation that channel collective efforts towards inclusive and sustainable societal outcomes. 11
Together, these Chakras provide a comprehensive framework for countries, international organisations, and stakeholders to align AI strategies, promote shared learning, and deploy AI solutions that maximise collective benefits while addressing common challenges.
AI Impact Events at the Summit
The objectives of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 are operationalised by the AI Impact Events. The events provide structured platforms to present Indian AI initiatives, sectoral use cases, and institutional frameworks, while enabling feedback, peer learning, and international benchmarking.
Pre-Summit Events
Pre-Summit Events have been organised as part of the preparatory process for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 to facilitate early consultations and focused thematic discussions. These engagements, held in India and abroad, bring together governments, academic and research institutions, industry, startups, and civil society.
Regional AI Conferences
Regional AI Conferences are being organised as part of the lead-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 to align national AI priorities with regional needs. Eight conferences held between October 2025 and January 2026 across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Telangana, partnered with state governments will identify region-specific AI use cases, policy inputs, and capacity gaps. The deliberations will inform the agenda and outcomes of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026.
Main Summit
The Main Summit is being organised across the seven Chakras of the Summit. These sessions is bringing together industry, academia, and international partners to examine use cases, share policy experiences, and identify practical approaches for development-oriented deployment of AI. The strong global response to the Summit is reflected in the receipt of over 700 proposals.
AI Compendium
The AI Compendium is a key knowledge output of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 and will be released during the Summit on 17 February 2026. It comprises a set of thematic casebooks documenting real-world applications of Artificial Intelligence across priority sectors. It will serve as a reference resource for practitioners, and stakeholders, and support continued collaboration and adoption of responsible and development-oriented AI solutions beyond the Summit.
Flagship Events
A major highlight of the Summit is the three flagship Global Impact Challenges—AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi—designed to identify scalable, development-oriented AI solutions aligned with national priorities. Together, these challenges have received over 4,650 applications from more than 60 countries, reflecting strong global participation and innovation interest. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation by domain experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, 70 finalists have been selected to showcase their solutions at the Grand Finale and Awards Ceremony.
Together, these flagship challenges and knowledge platforms underscore the Summit’s transition from dialogue to delivery, fostering scalable and inclusive AI innovation. By connecting startups, women technologists, youth innovators, researchers, and industry leaders, the Summit strengthens India’s position as a global hub for responsible and development-oriented artificial intelligence.
Agenda of Events and Notable Attendees at the India-AI Impact Summit
Beginning with the India Innovation Festival, the programme builds momentum through policy panels, knowledge launches, research and industry sessions, and culminates in leader-level engagements and Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Council meetings.
Date
Event
Venue
16–20 February 2026
AI Impact Expo
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
16 February 2026
Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables
Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi
17 February 2026
Release of Knowledge Compendiums on AI in Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture, Gender Empowerment, Accessibility
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Seminar on Applied AI
AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge
Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi
Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables
Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi
18 February 2026
Research Symposium
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Industry Session
AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge
Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi
Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables
Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi
Summit Dinner
Convention Centre, New Delhi
19 February 2026
Opening Ceremony
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Leaders’ Plenary
CEO Roundtable
Keynotes / Panel Discussion/ Roundtables
Bharat Mandapam / Sushma Swaraj Bhawan / Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi
20 February 2026
GPAI Council Meeting
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Keynotes/ Panel Discussion/ Roundtables
Bharat Mandapam / Sushma Swaraj Bhawan / Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi
*(Agenda as on 16 Feb, 2026)- The agenda is tentative and subject to revisions.
*The list of notable attendees is tentative and subject to revisions.
Key Institutional Frameworks Involved in the Summit
The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is supported by core government institutions responsible for policy formulation, programme implementation, ecosystem development, and digital infrastructure. Their involvement provides administrative leadership, technical support, and institutional continuity, ensuring that the Summit is grounded in existing national initiatives and capable of translating discussions into actionable outcomes.
MeitY provides overall policy direction for AI and digital technologies in India. The Ministry anchors the Summit within national priorities on artificial intelligence, electronics, digital governance, and trusted technology adoption. Its role ensures inter-ministerial coordination, alignment with state governments, and integration of Summit outcomes with ongoing national programmes and regulatory frameworks.
IndiaAI Mission is a flagship mission supporting AI development in India. The Mission shapes the core themes of the Summit, including AI compute infrastructure, datasets, indigenous AI models, skilling, and startup support. It highlights ongoing government efforts to promote safe, responsible, and inclusive use of artificial intelligence.
STPI supports the innovation and participation of startups, MSMEs, and innovators in the Summit. It provides incubation facilities, technical infrastructure, and industry linkages. Its network of centres across the country enables wider regional participation and supports growth of AI-driven enterprises. It helps connect AI innovators with industry, global markets, and export opportunities, strengthening India’s position in the global digital economy.
Digital India provides the foundational framework for large-scale AI adoption in India. Its emphasis on digital public platforms, inclusion, and citizen-centric governance is reflected in Summit themes. Digital India ensures AI solutions showcased at the Summit align with service delivery, accessibility, transparency, and public trust at national scale.
Expected Outcomes of the Summit
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to deliver focused, outcome-driven results aligned with national priorities. The Summit is emphasising practical AI deployment, policy alignment, and institutional coordination to support effective implementation across government and industry. It is strengthening governance and regulatory frameworks, assess regional preparedness for AI-led industrial growth, and promote skill development and workforce transition. The Summit is also expand awareness and understanding of AI applications, and foster sustained partnerships among government, academia, startups, and industry to enable responsible and inclusive growth of the AI ecosystem.
Conclusion
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is delivering focused, outcome-oriented results aligned with national priorities. The Summit is advancing practical AI deployment, policy coherence, and institutional coordination to ensure effective implementation across government and industry. It is strengthening governance and regulatory frameworks, assessing regional preparedness for AI-led industrial growth, and accelerating skill development and workforce transition. The Summit is also expanding awareness of AI applications and fostering sustained partnerships among government, academia, startups, and industry to promote responsible, inclusive, and innovation-driven growth of the AI ecosystem.
References
- AI In Healthcare: AI is improving healthcare access and outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved areas. AI-enabled remote diagnostics and portable tools support disease detection where doctors are scarce, while automated blood and urine testing accelerates diagnosis and treatment. AI-powered telemedicine, including chatbots and symptom checkers, connects rural patients to doctors, reducing travel and wait times. AI-based medical image analysis enables faster diagnosis of TB, cancer, and other conditions in remote areas. Predictive analytics support disease outbreak forecasting, while AI-driven drug discovery and personalized therapies improve affordability and outcomes for chronic conditions.