New Delhi [India], February 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday, February 19, setting the stage for strengthened global collaboration and advancing India’s vision for inclusive, trusted and development-oriented artificial intelligence.
The summit, the first global AI event hosted in the Global South, is being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam. It brings together policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, startups and investors from around the world to showcase real-world AI applications and foster international partnerships in the rapidly evolving field.
The summit aims to translate AI innovations into actionable development outcomes aligned with India’s strategic initiatives, such as the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister inaugurated the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, underscoring India’s commitment to responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence.
The summit is witnessing unprecedented participation, with more than 20 heads of state, 60 ministers and 500 global AI leaders in attendance.
After inaugurating the summit, Modi interacted with exhibitors, including startups, researchers and technology leaders showcasing AI applications across sectors. He was accompanied by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
An official release said artificial intelligence is a key enabler of India’s development journey, strengthening governance and transforming public service delivery in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The expo spans 10 arenas covering more than 70,000 square meters and hosts global technology companies, startups, academia, research institutions, Union ministries, state governments and international partners.
Thirteen country pavilions are highlighting international collaboration in the AI ecosystem, including participation from Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and African nations.
More than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations are being organized across three thematic “chakras” — People, Planet and Progress — reflecting AI’s broad-based impact across sectors.
Under the People theme, AI-enabled solutions are expanding health care access through telemedicine and diagnostics, personalizing education through adaptive learning and securing financial systems through fraud detection.
Under the Planet theme, AI is enabling smarter and more sustainable practices in agriculture through crop prediction, precision farming and drone-based monitoring.
Under the Progress theme, AI is strengthening governance through language translation of court judgments, improving service delivery and enhancing everyday efficiency through applications in food delivery, mobility and personalized digital services, reflecting a shift toward inclusive and accessible technology for both rural and urban India.
More than 600 high-potential startups are participating, many of which are building globally relevant and population-scale AI solutions already deployed in real-world settings.
The expo is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, including international delegates, and aims to foster global partnerships and business opportunities within the AI ecosystem.
In addition, more than 500 sessions featuring over 3,250 speakers and panelists will be conducted during the event.
Under the IndiaAI Mission, the country is unveiling 12 indigenous foundation models developed by homegrown startups and consortia, trained on vast Indian datasets and tailored to the nation’s 22 official languages.
For India, a nation projected to see its AI market surpass $17 billion by 2027, the summit is more than a diplomatic milestone — it is a declaration of intent. With 800 million internet users, a booming startup ecosystem and world-class digital public infrastructure, India is positioning itself as a bridge between innovation and impact. (ANI)
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