New Delhi is set to host one of the world's most significant artificial intelligence gatherings as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 takes place from February 19-20, 2026, marking a historic milestone as the first international AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Overview
Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together governments, international organizations, industry leaders, and civil society to explore how artificial intelligence can drive inclusive growth, strengthen public services, and support sustainable development.
The summit is organized under India's IndiaAI Mission by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), emphasizing India's commitment to democratizing AI technology and making it accessible to all sections of society. (according to research)
Core Theme: Welfare for All
The summit operates under the Sanskrit principle of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" – meaning "welfare for all, happiness for all." This philosophy underscores India's vision of ensuring AI benefits reach every citizen, particularly focusing on practical applications that address real-world challenges.
Three Guiding Pillars: People, Planet, Progress
The summit's framework revolves around three thematic "Sutras" or guiding principles: (studies show)
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People: Emphasizing human capital development, inclusion for social empowerment, and democratizing AI resources
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Planet: Harnessing AI for resilience, innovation, and environmental sustainability (experts confirm)
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Progress: Driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and fostering scientific advancement
Seven Key Objectives
The summit aims to achieve transformative goals aligned with India's AI strategy: (sources indicate)
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Democratize access to AI resources for all stakeholders
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Enable inclusive development of AI applications and models (data shows)
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Harness AI for a resilient and sustainable planet
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Make AI systems secure, transparent, and trusted (according to research)
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Enable development of local, contextual, multilingual AI solutions
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Empower the voices of the Global South (studies show)
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Bridge the Global AI Divide and ensure equitable benefits
Massive Scale and Participation
The India AI Impact Expo 2026, running from February 16-20, showcases the scale of this event: (experts confirm)
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300+ exhibitors from India and 30+ countries
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10+ thematic pavilions covering over 70,000 square meters (sources indicate)
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600 high-potential startups presenting innovations
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13 country pavilions including Australia, Japan, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and others (data shows)
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500+ sessions featuring 3,250 speakers
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2.5 lakh (250,000) visitors expected, including international delegates (according to research)
Focus on Small AI and Practical Solutions
A central focus of the summit is "small AI" – practical, affordable AI solutions that run on everyday devices and work in settings with limited connectivity, infrastructure, and technical capacity. This approach ensures AI technology can reach rural areas and underserved communities.
Indigenous AI Development
India is unveiling 12 indigenous foundation models under the IndiaAI Mission, trained on vast domestic datasets and supporting the nation's 22 official languages. Four Indian startups—Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, and Gan AI—are building foundational AI models with plans to make them open source. (studies show)
Real-World Applications
The summit highlights AI's transformative impact across critical sectors:
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Healthcare: AI-powered disease detection systems (experts confirm)
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Agriculture: Soil testing and advisory services
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Education: Multilingual learning platforms (sources indicate)
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Energy and Climate: Sustainable solutions for environmental challenges
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Governance: AI-enabled citizen services and digital transformation (data shows)
Around 30 AI applications have been funded in various verticals, demonstrating practical implementation.
Global Partnerships
The summit emphasizes collaboration and partnerships: (according to research)
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World Bank Group is partnering on policy coordination, AI infrastructure access, and development applications
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IndiaAI Startups Global Program launched with Station F & HEC Paris to help Indian AI startups scale in Europe (studies show)
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Multi-stakeholder working groups created with participation from multiple countries to develop actionable recommendations
Key Deliverables
The summit will produce several important outcomes: (experts confirm)
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Leaders' Declaration: A comprehensive policy statement on AI governance
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Working Group Recommendations: Action plans developed through multinational collaboration (sources indicate)
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Innovation Challenges and Hackathons: Showcasing cutting-edge AI solutions
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Policy Frameworks: Guidelines for responsible AI development and deployment (data shows)
India's AI Market Potential
India's AI market is projected to surpass USD 17 billion by 2027, positioning the nation as a global hub for AI innovation. The summit underscores India's growing role in bridging technology, policy, and real-world impact.
Bridging the Global AI Divide
As the first major AI summit in the Global South, this event gives voice to developing nations and ensures their perspectives shape the global AI narrative. India's participatory approach, anchored in "Jan Bhagidari" (people's participation), positions citizens as active participants in AI transformation.
Looking Ahead
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 represents more than just a conference—it's a defining moment in global AI governance. By emphasizing ethical innovation, accessibility, and inclusive development, India is demonstrating how AI can be a powerful force for measurable social impact while respecting cultural diversity and addressing the unique challenges of emerging economies.
For stakeholders, innovators, and policymakers worldwide, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 offers an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate on shaping an AI future that truly works for everyone—where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.