India , on February 16, set the tone for the next phase of global artificial intelligence governance with the commencement of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first time a global AI summit of this scale is being hosted in the Global South.
The five-day summit, running from February 16 to 20, has drawn unprecedented international participation, with more than 20 Heads of State and Government, 60 ministers and vice ministers, and over 500 global AI leaders converging in the national capital. The gathering brings together policymakers, technology CEOs, founders, researchers, multilateral institutions and philanthropic organisations, underlining India’s growing influence in shaping the global AI agenda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, outlining India’s vision for inclusive, responsible and development-oriented artificial intelligence. His address is expected to emphasise global cooperation, public-purpose innovation and the role of AI in strengthening governance and public service delivery.
From a business and policy standpoint, the summit signals India’s ambition to move beyond being a large AI talent base to becoming a global convenor that links policy, innovation and implementation. The discussions are centred on deploying AI to drive inclusive economic growth, build resilient public systems and enable sustainable development across emerging economies.
A key highlight of the summit is the culmination of three flagship Global Impact Challenges — AI for All, AI by Her, and YUVAi — designed to accelerate scalable, high-impact AI solutions aligned with national and global development priorities. Together, these challenges attracted more than 4,650 applications from over 60 countries, reflecting strong international interest in India-led AI initiatives. Following a multi-stage evaluation, 70 finalist teams will showcase their solutions during the Grand Finale and Awards Felicitation events at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, gaining access to policymakers, investors and industry leaders.
The academic and research dimension of the summit is being anchored through a dedicated Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact on February 18, organised in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. The symposium has received around 250 research submissions from Africa, Asia and Latin America, highlighting growing South–South collaboration in AI research. It will be attended by Alar Karis, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Minister of State Jitin Prasada, among other global AI experts.
Structurally, the summit is anchored in the principles of People, Planet and Progress, supported by seven thematic working groups spanning areas such as safe and trusted AI, democratisation of AI resources, human capital development and AI for economic growth and social good. These groups are expected to deliver outcome-oriented recommendations that bridge policy dialogue with real-world deployment.
By hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026, India is positioning itself as a key partner for global AI cooperation, particularly for the Global South. The summit underscores a strategic shift from dialogue to delivery, reinforcing India’s intent to align technological advancement with inclusive growth, sustainability and shared global standards for responsible AI.