India is entering a defining phase of its development journey, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a strategic national capability to drive scale, inclusion, and equitable growth. Positioned not merely as a technology, AI is being deployed as a public-purpose tool, democratising access, strengthening governance, and accelerating innovation across sectors.
Reinforcing its growing influence in global technology governance, India will host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from 16–20 February, marking the first-ever global AI summit to be held in the Global South. The event underlines India’s expanding role in shaping international policy frameworks for emerging technologies.
Designed as an outcomes-oriented global platform, the Summit aims to translate AI innovation into measurable economic and social impact, aligned with India’s national vision of Welfare for All, Happiness of All and the global principle of AI for Humanity. It will convene 15–20 Heads of Government, over 50 international ministers, and more than 40 global and Indian CEOs, alongside policymakers, researchers, and technology leaders.
More than 100 countries are already engaged through the Summit’s Seven Chakras (Working Groups), reflecting broad-based participation in shaping a responsible and inclusive AI future. The framework is anchored in three guiding Sutras namely People, Planet, and Progress, which define the principles for global cooperation on AI.
The Summit’s deliberations are organised across seven interconnected thematic areas, each translating the Sutras into concrete policy pathways and real-world applications.
Human Capital : Advancing equitable skilling and inclusive workforce transitions for an AI-enabled future of work.
Inclusion for Social Empowerment : Designing AI systems that ensure representation, access, and empowerment for diverse communities
Safe and Trusted AI – Building globally trusted systems anchored in transparency, accountability, and shared safeguards.
Science : Leveraging AI to accelerate frontier research and convert breakthroughs into shared global progress.
Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency : Driving sustainable, resource-efficient AI to strengthen climate resilience.
Democratising AI Resources : Expanding equitable access to foundational AI infrastructure and capabilities.
AI for Economic Development & Social Good : Enhancing productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth across economies.
Through these Chakras, India seeks to align global AI norms with practical implementation, addressing both international priorities and local development challenges.
The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 positions India as a convenor and partner in global AI cooperation. By linking policy with implementation and innovation with public purpose, the Summit advances a development-oriented framework for responsible AI deployment.