Abstract / Overview
The India – AI Impact Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026. Conceived as a global platform, the summit aims to foster international collaboration, shape AI governance, and showcase the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for humanity. Hosted under the framework of the IndiaAI Mission, the summit highlights India’s commitment to building an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI ecosystem. The official portal for the summit is impact.indiaai.gov.in.
Vision and Objectives
The India – AI Impact Summit 2026 is designed to be more than a technology event; it is positioned as a global dialogue on the future of AI. The objectives include:
Democratizing AI resources to bridge the global AI divide.
Encouraging AI for social good, with focus areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and disaster management.
Building trust and accountability through discussions on safe, ethical, and responsible AI.
Showcasing India’s progress under the IndiaAI Mission and reinforcing India’s role as a leader in global AI governance.
Facilitating partnerships between governments, academia, industry, startups, and civil society.
The central theme is “People, Planet, Progress”, encapsulating the idea that AI should serve humanity, preserve environmental sustainability, and enable equitable development.
Key Themes and Sub-Themes
The summit agenda is organized around seven core themes:
Human Capital Development: Preparing the workforce for AI-driven economies by investing in AI education, upskilling, and reskilling.
Inclusion and Bridging the Digital Divide: Ensuring equitable access to AI tools and resources across geographies, communities, and economic strata.
Safe and Trusted AI: Addressing governance, regulation, and risk management to ensure AI systems are reliable, ethical, and transparent.
AI for Resilience: Using AI to mitigate climate change, enhance disaster preparedness, and strengthen healthcare systems.
AI for Science: Leveraging AI in scientific discovery, space exploration, biotechnology, and advanced research.
Democratizing AI Resources: Expanding access to compute infrastructure, datasets, and open-source models, especially for developing nations.
AI for Social Good: Driving initiatives that use AI for public service delivery, poverty alleviation, and inclusive growth.
Each theme is supported by working groups, pre-summit events, and stakeholder consultations to ensure diverse perspectives are incorporated into the final deliberations.
Pre-Summit Engagements
Leading up to the summit, pre-summit events are being organized between August 2025 and January 2026, allowing organizations worldwide to contribute through:
Workshops: Focused sessions on technical, ethical, and policy aspects of AI.
Hackathons: Innovation challenges to design AI solutions for pressing global issues.
Policy Dialogues: Multi-stakeholder forums to discuss governance frameworks.
Academic Symposia: Knowledge-sharing platforms for researchers and practitioners.
Details and applications for hosting pre-summit events are available on the official website: impact.indiaai.gov.in/home/pre-summit-events.
Stakeholder Consultations and Public Engagement
The summit encourages broad participation:
Virtual consultations with international experts to refine agendas.
Logo contest and innovation showcases to involve the public in shaping the summit’s identity.
Stakeholder submissions to collect insights from startups, enterprises, academic institutions, and civil society.
Continuous updates and calls for participation are published on the official portal: impact.indiaai.gov.in.
India’s Role in Global AI Governance
The summit reflects India’s vision of acting as a bridge between the Global North and Global South in AI governance. By hosting this event, India positions itself as a convening power to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared globally and that developing nations are not excluded from technological progress.
India’s AI Safety Institute and initiatives under the IndiaAI Mission will be showcased, aligning domestic strategies with international cooperation.
Structure of the Summit
Date & Venue: 19–20 February 2026, New Delhi.
Format: Hybrid (in-person and virtual).
Participants: Global leaders, policymakers, researchers, AI practitioners, startups, corporates, and civil society groups.
Outcomes:
A roadmap for global AI governance.
Declarations on AI ethics, resource sharing, and responsible innovation.
Launch of collaborative projects involving multiple countries.
Expected Impact
The India – AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to:
Advance global consensus on AI ethics and safety.
Strengthen international AI partnerships, particularly for the Global South.
Highlight India’s indigenous innovations in foundational models, AI applications, and capacity building.
Serve as a platform for startups to showcase AI solutions to global stakeholders.
Promote AI for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning with UN priorities.
Conclusion
The India – AI Impact Summit 2026 represents a historic moment for India and the world. By combining its domestic initiatives under the IndiaAI Mission with an international platform for dialogue, India is driving the conversation on how AI can be harnessed responsibly for humanity.
Anchored in the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, the summit will not only shape India’s AI trajectory but also contribute to the creation of a global AI order that is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable.