India will host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from 16 to 20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The five-day summit is expected to convene global leaders, policymakers, researchers, technology companies, startups, and civil society representatives to discuss the responsible and scalable deployment of artificial intelligence.
The event is being organised under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). According to official communications, the summit is described as the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South.
TL;DR
- India AI Impact Summit 2026 runs 16–20 February in New Delhi.
- Described by organisers as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
- Expected to feature over 400 exhibitors from around 30 countries.
- Structured around “People, Planet, Progress”.
- AI Compendium to be released on 17 February.
AI Within India’s Development Framework
Artificial intelligence is positioned as a strategic enabler of India’s development priorities. Under the broader vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, AI is being integrated into governance systems, digital public infrastructure, and service delivery platforms.
The summit provides a platform to examine how such development-oriented AI approaches can be strengthened through global dialogue and cooperation.
Three Sutras And Seven Chakras
The summit is anchored on three foundational pillars, referred to as “Sutras”:
• People
• Planet
• Progress
These pillars guide discussions around inclusion, sustainability, and innovation-driven economic growth.
Deliberations will be structured across seven thematic “Chakras”:
• Human Capital
• Inclusion for Social Empowerment
• Safe and Trusted AI
• Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency
• Science
• Democratising AI Resources
• AI for Economic Growth & Social Good
This framework is intended to align AI policy discussions with measurable social and economic outcomes.
AI Impact Expo And Main Program
A central feature of the summit is the India AI Impact Expo 2026. The Expo is expected to feature over 400 exhibitors from approximately 30 countries across multiple thematic pavilions. These figures are provisional and subject to revision.
According to official updates, the summit has received over 700 proposals across its tracks, reflecting wide engagement from domestic and international stakeholders. These submissions are currently being curated into the final programme.
The five-day agenda includes keynotes, panel discussions, policy dialogues, research sessions, industry engagements, and knowledge launches.
Participation is expected from delegations representing over 100 countries, though final attendance numbers remain subject to confirmation.
Pre-Summit And Regional Consultations
The summit follows a series of preparatory engagements.
Eight Regional AI Conferences were organised between October 2025 and January 2026 in partnership with state governments across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Telangana.
These consultations helped identify region-specific AI applications, policy priorities, and capacity requirements. Additional pre-summit discussions were conducted with governments, academia, industry, startups, and civil society stakeholders.
Topics For More Insights
Research Symposium And AI Compendium
A Research Symposium on “AI and its Impact” will be held on 18 February, with IIIT Hyderabad serving as the knowledge partner.
On 17 February, the summit will release the AI Compendium, which will document real-world AI applications across sectors including health, energy, education, agriculture, gender empowerment, and accessibility. The Compendium is intended to serve as a reference resource for policymakers and practitioners.
Inclusion-Focused Global Challenges
The summit includes structured initiatives designed to broaden participation across sectors and demographics.
AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge is 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, offering awards up to INR 2.50 crore.
AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge is implemented in partnership with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform, offering awards up to INR 2.50 crore.
YUVAi: Global Youth Challenge is implemented in partnership with MyBharat and the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, offering awards up to INR 85 lakh.
India AI Tinkerpreneur is a national-level bootcamp aimed at building AI and entrepreneurial capabilities among students from Classes 6 to 12.
Institutional Alignment
The summit is supported by MeitY and the IndiaAI Mission, and aligns with the Digital India initiative.
The IndiaAI Mission focuses on AI compute infrastructure, datasets, indigenous model development, startup enablement, and large-scale skilling programmes. The summit reflects alignment with these ongoing national priorities.
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