The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first time that a global convening of this scale on artificial intelligence is being organised in the Global South. The Summit will bring together the Heads of State and Government, ministers, global technology leaders, eminent researchers, multilateral institutions and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in advancing inclusive growth, strengthening public systems and enabling sustainable development.
On 19 February, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address, setting the tone for global cooperation and India’s vision for inclusive and responsible AI. The five-day Summit from 16 -20 February 2026 will witness participation from over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government and 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers, along with over 500 global AI leaders comprising CEOs, founders, academicians, researchers, CTOs and philanthropic organisations.
A major highlight of the Summit, the three flagship Global Impact Challenges – AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi – will culminate in the announcement of their finalists and the Grand Finale showcase. Designed to advance inclusive, responsible and development-oriented artificial intelligence, these challenges were launched to accelerate scalable, high-impact AI solutions aligned with national priorities and global development objectives. Together, they attracted over 4,650 applications from more than 60 countries, reflecting strong international participation and reinforcing India’s emergence as a credible global hub for responsible and scalable AI innovation.
Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation led by domain experts, policymakers and industry leaders, the top 70 teams across the three categories have been selected as finalists. They will present their solutions during the Grand Finale and Awards Felicitation Ceremony on 16 and 17 February at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi. The finalists will engage with policymakers, industry leaders, investors and academia, while gaining recognition and ecosystem support to scale their innovations nationally and globally.
The Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact, being organised in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad on 18 February, serves as the principal academic platform of the Summit. The Symposium has received around 250 research submissions from Africa, Asia and Latin America and is being graced by H.E. Mr. Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia; Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology; and Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology. It brings together globally renowned AI pioneers and leading research institutions to deliberate on AI-driven scientific discovery, safety and governance frameworks, equitable access to compute infrastructure and research collaboration across the Global South.
