The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has received an overwhelming global response and reflects the systematic and deployment-driven growth of India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, said on Friday. Addressing a high-level press conference organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Minister outlined key milestones and expectations ahead of the Summit, which will be held from 16–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The event marks the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South, positioning India at the centre of global AI dialogue.
India’s AI Ecosystem Advancing in a Structured Manner
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Summit is shaping up to be the largest AI gathering globally, citing strong international participation and deep industry engagement. He referred to recent interactions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with AI developers, innovators and industry leaders across the AI value chain—models, applications and infrastructure—as evidence of India’s systematic and solution-oriented AI development strategy.
The Minister highlighted that:
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Over 200 sector-specific AI models developed by leading IT companies are proposed to be launched during the Summit
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Nearly USD 70 billion is already flowing into India’s AI infrastructure layer, with the potential to double by the conclusion of the Summit
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AI talent development will be scaled by extending AI infrastructure and industry-finalised curricula to 500 universities, creating a strong national talent pipeline
MeitY Launches AI Compendium with Industry Insights
During the press conference, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw also launched a Compendium titled “The Impact Agenda: Leadership Reflections”, featuring perspectives from around 60 leading industry experts. The publication captures reflections on the future of AI and its role in driving inclusive growth, innovation, and societal impact.
Extensive Preparatory Work Anchored in People, Planet and Progress
Senior MeitY officials highlighted the extensive groundwork undertaken ahead of the Summit. Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, noted that hybrid meetings of all seven thematic Working Groups, anchored around the Sutras of People, Planet and Progress, have successfully concluded, with their deliverables now at an advanced stage.
He further stated that:
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Seven Regional AI Impact Conferences have been held across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala, aligning national AI priorities with regional strengths and governance needs
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Nearly 480+ Pre-Summit events have already taken place across India and globally
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These include 83 international engagements across 30 countries, with more activities scheduled until 10 February 2026
Focus on Democratisation and Responsible AI
Shri S. Krishnan emphasised that the central objective of the India AI Impact Summit is the democratisation of AI, ensuring that its benefits reach a broad cross-section of society. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event places strong emphasis on AI governance, standards, safety, and responsible deployment, while fostering shared global understanding.
Summit Week: Large-Scale Global Participation and Expo
The press conference announced that the Summit week will feature 500+ curated events across Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, including high-level dialogues, exhibitions and outcome-oriented sessions.
Key highlights include:
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AI Impact Expo with 840+ exhibitors, including Country Pavilions, Ministries, State Governments, Startups, Industry and Research Institutions
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Showcasing of AI solutions with proven real-world impact
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Demonstration of progress on IndiaAI foundational AI models
The Summit is expected to host:
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15 Heads of State/Government
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40+ Ministers
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100+ CEOs and CXOs
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100+ eminent academics
Industry partners confirmed to participate include Jio, Qualcomm, OpenAI, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and the Gates Foundation, underscoring strong private-sector engagement.
Conclusion
The press conference reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to ensuring that AI remains safe, trusted, inclusive, and impact-driven. With unprecedented global participation, strong industry alignment, and a focus on real-world deployment, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is poised to become a defining moment in shaping the future of artificial intelligence—from India, for the world.
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Source: PIB
