India hosts world’s first major AI summit
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced on Monday at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first time that a global convening of this scale on Artificial Intelligence AI is being organised in the Global South. The five-day Summit from 16-20 February 2026 will witness participation from over 100 Government representatives, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government and 60 ministers and vice ministers, along with over 500 global AI leaders comprising CEOs, founders, academicians, researchers, CTOs and philanthropic organisations.
The Summit will bring together the Heads of State and Government, ministers, global technology leaders, eminent researchers, multilateral institutions and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in advancing inclusive growth, strengthening public systems and enabling sustainable development. On 19 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address, setting the tone for global cooperation and India’s vision for inclusive and responsible AI.
A major highlight of the Summit, the three flagship Global Impact Challenges — AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi — will culminate in the announcement of their finalists and the Grand Finale showcase. Designed to advance inclusive, responsible and development-oriented artificial intelligence, these challenges were launched to accelerate scalable, high-impact AI solutions aligned with national priorities and global development objectives.
Together, they attracted over 4,650 applications from more than 60 countries, reflecting strong international participation and reinforcing India’s emergence as a credible global hub for responsible and scalable AI innovation. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation led by domain experts, policymakers and industry leaders, the top 70 teams across the three categories have been selected as finalists. They will present their solutions during the Grand Finale and Awards Felicitation Ceremony on 16 and 17 February at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma SwaraJ Bhawan.
The finalists will engage with policymakers, industry leaders, investors and academia, while gaining recognition and ecosystem support to scale their innovations nationally and globally. According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact, being organised in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad on 18 February, serves as the principal academic platform of the Summit.
The symposium has received around 250 research submissions from Africa, Asia and Latin America and is being graced by HE Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia; Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology; and Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.
It brings together globally renowned AI pioneers and leading research institutions to deliberate on AI-driven scientific discovery, safety and governance frameworks, equitable access to compute infrastructure and research collaboration across the Global South. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 strengthens India’s role as a key platform for shaping the global AI agenda. Anchored in the Seven Chakras and the Three Sutras of People, Planet, and Progress, the Summit advances a development-oriented framework for artificial intelligence.
The Summit is anchored in the three core pillars of People, Planet and Progress, and is driven by seven thematic working groups covering AI for Economic Growth and Social Good; Democratisation of AI Resources; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Human Capital; Science; and Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency. These working groups will present outcome-oriented recommendations that link policy dialogue to implementation pathways. The Summit will conclude with deliberations on scaling AI for inclusive economic growth, strengthening international partnerships and advancing responsible innovation frameworks for the Global South.
By linking policy with implementation and innovation with public purpose, the Summit establishes a structured approach to responsible AI deployment. It aligns technological advancement with inclusive growth and sustainable development. The Summit positions India as a convener and partner in global AI cooperation, supporting shared standards, collaborative frameworks, and scalable solutions for the public good. It marks a transition from dialogue to delivery, reinforcing India’s commitment to responsible, inclusive, and development-focused AI pathways. Visitors walking past a large digital installation showcasing robotic automation during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.
