India -AI Impact Summit 2026

Welfare for All, Happiness of All

21 January, 2026

Key Takeaways
• The India –AI Impact Summit 2026 will be the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global
South .
• It will be held from 16 to 20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi, as a five -day programme
covering policy, research, industry, and public engagement.
• It will be anchored on 3 foundational pillars , or 'Sutras' : People, Planet and Progress .
• The India AI Impact Expo is expected to feature over 300 exhibitors , from 30 Countries, across more
than 10 thematic pavilions.
*The numbers are tentative and subject to revisions .

Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key enabler of India’s development
journey, strengthening governance and improving public service
delivery. For India, AI supports inclusive growth at scale and aligns
with the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. India’s linguistic and
cultural diversity positions it strongly for advancing multi -lingual
and multi -modal AI systems tailored to diverse public needs.

Building on India’s development -focused approach to AI, the India –

AI Impact Summit 2026is scheduled to be held on 16–20 February
2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi . The summit will be the
first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South . It will
bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology
companies, innovators, and experts to showcase and deliberate on the transformative potential of AI
across governance, innovation, and sustainable development.

Taking forward outcomes from major international AI forums, India’s approach through the India –AI
Impact Summit 2026 will focus on translating global discussions into development outcomes aligned with
national priorities under the IndiaAI mission and Digital India Initiative . It will strengthen multilateral
cooperation while advancing practical, people -centric AI frameworks relevant to India’s governance,
economy, and society.

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 enhanc ing 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.

1. 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 conditi ons in remote areas. Predictive analytics support disease outbreak forecasting,
while AI -driven drug discovery and personalized therapies improve affordability and outcomes for
chronic conditions.

2. A I in Agriculture & Rural Economy: AI is enabling smarter, data -driven farming practices to enhance
productivity and farmer incomes. AI predicts weather, pest outbreaks, and irrigation needs, guiding
farmers through mobile advisories. AI -powered drones monitor crop health and reduce waste, while
satellite imagery and weather data support harvest forecasting. Market price prediction models help
farmers anticipate demand and supply trends. Tools such as Mossum GPT and initiatives like Kisan
E -Mitra provide real -time, localized agricultural in formation in regional languages.

3. AI in Education & Learning: AI is making education more personalized, inclusive, and accessible. AI -
driven platforms adapt learning content to individual student needs, supporting both slow learners
and advanced students. AI -powered language translation removes linguistic barriers by converting
content into regional languages. AI -based tutoring systems offer instant feedback and 24/7 learning
support. Platforms such as DIKSHA use AI to deliver relevant and accessible educational content
across diverse learn er groups.

4. A I in Finance & Commerce: AI is strengthening financial security, inclusion, and service efficiency.
AI -powered systems detect fraud and secure digital transactions in real time. AI -based credit scoring
expands access to loans for unbanked and underserved populations. Banking chatbots provide 24/7
assistance for routine services such as balance checks and fund transfers, reducing wait times. AI -
driven personalization enables tailored financial products and advice.

5. A I in Governance & Public Services: AI is enhancing the efficiency, accessibility, and transparency of
public services. AI -assisted translation of court judgments into vernacular languages improves
access to justice. AI supports smart city management by optimizing traffic, waste, and public safety
systems. AI streamlines government service delivery by reducing processing times for schemes and
applications. In the judiciary, AI improves case management and legal accessibility.

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 innova tion 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
T he 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 will be 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 will be structured
around 7 Chakras . These Chakras represent key areas of multilateral cooperation that channel collective
efforts towards inclusive and sustainable societal outcomes. 11

1. Human Capital : This chakra focuses on

building an equitable AI reskilling
ecosystem through targeted skilling. For
India, this strengthens workforce
readiness for the AI economy, aligned
with national development priorities.

2. Inclusion for Social Empowerment :

This chakra focuses on enabling inclusive
participation through shared AI solutions
and scalable models. This supports
delivery of citizen -centric AI solutions
and strengthens last -mile services in
India.

3. Safe and Trusted AI : This chakra

focuses on translating global principles
for responsible AI into practical,
interoperable safety and governance
frameworks. For India, this strengthens
domestic AI governance, supports safe
deployment of AI across public platforms
and builds p ublic trust while enabling
innovation.

4. Resilience, Innovation and

Efficiency : This chakra focuses on
addressing the growing environmental and resource challenges posed by large scale AI systems,
which risk deepening the global AI divide. For India, it supports sustainable AI adoption, ensuring AI
growth remains environmentally responsible and socially equ itable.
5. Science: This chakra focuses on harnessing AI to accelerate discovery while correcting deep
inequities in access to data, compute, and research capacity. For India, it strengthens research
ecosystems, accelerates solutions in health, agriculture, and climate, and positions India as an active
contributor to global scientific advancement.

6. Democratizing AI Resources : This chakra envisions a global AI ecosystem where access to

foundational enablers of AI development is equitable and affordable for all . For India, it expands
access for startups, researchers, and public institutions while ensuring equitable participation in
global AI value chains.

7. AI for Economic Growth & Social Good : This chakra explores approaches to harness AI’s
potential for truly inclusive growth, recognising and supporting high impact use cases that become
exemplars of AI for both economic growth and social good.

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 challe nges.

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, academ ic 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 2 026.

Main Summit
The Main Summit will be organised across the seven Chakras of the Summit. These sessions will bring
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 o f responsible and
development -oriented AI solutions beyond the Summit.

Flagship Events

• AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge is aimed at identifying AI solutions with potential for large -
scale impact. Implemented in partnership with Startup India under the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Digital India Bhashini
Division, the Challenge inv ites participation from students, working professionals, researchers, and
startups. It focuses on widely deployable AI solutions across sectors such as urban infrastructure and
mobility. Selected solutions will be showcased at the Summit, with awards up to INR 2.50 crore .

• AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge is aimed at promoting women -led innovation in AI.
Implemented in partnership with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform, the Challenge
invites women technologists to present AI solutions addressing large -scale and real -world public
challenges. Selected solutions will be showcased at the Summit, with awards up to INR 2.50 crore .

• YUVAi: Global Youth Challenge is aimed at encouraging young innovators to develop AI solutions
for real -world challenges. The Challenge invites participation from youth individuals and teams in the
13–21 age group. It is being implemented in partnership with MyBharat and the National Institute of
Electronics and Information Technology , to bring their most innovative AI solutions to solve real -world
problems. Selected participants will receive awards , with prizes worth up to INR 85 lak h.

• Research Symposium on AI and its Impact will be organised on 18 February 2026 at Bharat
Mandapam, New Delhi, as part of the India –AI Impact Summit 2026 , with IIIT Hyderabad as the
knowledge partner. The Symposium will bring together researcher s, the Global South, and the
international community to present frontier research, exchange evidence, and foster collaboration on
the impact of AI . It will feature plenary sessions, international research presentations, and Global
South research and poster showcases .

• The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is being organised by the MeitY , with Software Technology Parks
of India as the custodian. The expo is s pread across over 70,000 square metres . The Expo is expected
to host visitors from across the globe across seven thematic pavilions. Designed as a business -focused
platform, it will demonstrate the transition of Artificial Intelligence from research and pilots to large -
scale deployment, bringing together innovators and investors to engage on AI solutions addressing
sectoral and global challenges.

• India AI Tinkerpreneur is a national -level summer bootcamp aligned with the India –AI Impact
Summit 2026, aimed at building AI and entrepreneurial capabilities among school students from
Classes 6 to 12 . The programme equips young learners with hands -on exposure to AI tools and
technologies and encourages them to develop AI -enabled products and solutions addressing social -
impact challenges. Through structured online sessions, mentorship by industry and a cademic
experts, and guidance from ideation to executio n, the initiative promotes innovation, problem -solving,
and entrepreneurial thinking at an early stage.

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
AI Impact Expo Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
16–20 February 2026

16 February 2026 Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables Bharat Mandapam / Sushma Swaraj
Bhawan / Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi

Release of Knowledge Compendiums on AI Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

17 February 2026 in Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture,
Gender Empowerment, Accessibility

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
Research Symposium Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
18 February 2026
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

Opening Ceremony
19 February 2026 Leaders’ Plenary Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
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 21 January, 2026) - The agenda is tentative and subject to revisions.

*The list of notable attendees is tentativ e and subject to revision s .

Key Institutional Framework s 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 su pport, and institutional continuity, ensuring
that the Summit is grounded in existing national initiatives and capable of translating discussions into
actionable outcomes.

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

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 S ummit outcomes with ongoing national programmes and regulatory
frameworks.

• IndiaAI Mission
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 prom ote safe, responsible,
and inclusive use of artificial intelligence .

• Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)

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 -dri ven enterprises.
It helps connect AI innovators with industry, global markets, and export opportunities, strengthening
India’s position in the global digital economy.

• Digital India Initiative

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

T he India AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to deliver focused, outcome -driven results aligned with
national priorities. The Summit will emphasise practical AI deployment, policy alignment, and
institutional coordination to support effective implementation across government and industry. It will
strengthen governance and regulatory frameworks, assess regional preparedness for AI -led industrial
growth, and promote skill development and workforce transition. The Summit will 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 positions Artificial Intelligence as a strategic enabler for India’s
development priorities. The Summit consolidates learnings from national and regional engagements to
identify practical pathways for applying AI in governan ce, public service delivery, research, and industry.
It supports the objectives of Digital India by strengthening the role of AI in digital public infrastructure,
platform -based service delivery, and data -driven decision -making across sectors. The Summit re inforces
the Digital India initiative by strengthening the role of AI within digital public infrastructure and
technology -enabled service delivery. At the same time, it advances national self -reliance by emphasizing
domestic capabilities in compute infrastructure, datasets, talent development, and indigenous
innovation.

References
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