India will host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 15 to 20 February, positioning itself as a key convener in global artificial intelligence governance.
Organised under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, the Summit marks the first time the international series—previously held in Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali—will be hosted in the Global South.
Designed to move global AI dialogue from broad commitments to measurable outcomes, the Summit framework is built around the guiding principles of People, Planet and Progress.
These are operationalised through seven thematic working groups or “Chakras”, covering Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience and Innovation, Science, Democratising AI Resources, and AI for Economic Growth and Social Good.
Working group meetings will take place from October to December in hybrid format, anchored in Indian cities including Guwahati, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, and Kanpur.
Preparations have included five rounds of national consultations, more than 600 citizen responses via MyGov, and international outreach across Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Additionally, more than 50 affiliated pre-summit AI events have already been organised across India and abroad, with a total of 375 applications received from governments, universities, research institutions, civil society groups and private sector organisations worldwide.
To broaden participation and surface practical solutions, the Summit will feature a series of flagship initiatives. These include YUVAi – Global Youth Challenge, AI by HER – Global Impact Challenge, AI for ALL – Global Impact Challenge, and UDAAN – Global AI Pitch Fest for startups.
A large-scale AI Impact Expo from 16 to 20 February will showcase applications and innovations from governments, enterprises, and startups. A dedicated Research Symposium on AI and its Impact will be held on 18 February to feature work from India, the Global South and international researchers.
The provisional programme begins with a cultural day on 15 February, followed by three days of flagship events. The main Summit sessions on 19 and 20 February will include a Leaders’ Plenary, CEO Roundtable, GPAI Council Meeting, panel discussions, keynotes and expert-level roundtables.
Reflecting the government’s emphasis on participatory design, a nationwide MyGov logo contest drew nearly 600 submissions. The final AI Summit logo incorporates elements from the winning entry and aligns with the motto “Sarvajana Hitaya | Sarvajana Sukhaya”—“for the welfare of all, for the happiness of all.”
With its focus on access, safety, innovation and equitable deployment, the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 seeks to demonstrate how AI can advance development, inclusion and global collaboration at scale.
In a career spanning three decades and counting, Ramananda (Ram to his friends) has been the foreign editor of The Telegraph, Outlook Magazine and the New Indian Express. He helped set up rediff.com’s editorial operations in San Jose and New York, helmed sify.com, and was the founder editor of India.com.
His work has featured in national and international publications like the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, Global Times and Ashahi Shimbun. But his one constant over all these years, he says, has been the attempt to understand rising India’s place in the world.
He can rustle up a mean salad, his oil-less pepper chicken is to die for, and all it takes is some beer and rhythm and blues to rock his soul.
Talk to him about foreign and strategic affairs, media, South Asia, China, and of course India.
