Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: INDIA will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20 in New Delhi, marking the first global Artificial Intelligence summit to be hosted in the Global South. The summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, and innovators to deliberate on the role of Artificial Intelligence in governance, innovation, and sustainable development.
Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a key enabler in India’s development journey, supporting improved governance, inclusive growth, and enhanced public service delivery. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, India’s approach to AI focuses on people-centric and development-oriented deployment, leveraging the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity to advance multilingual and multimodal AI systems.
Building on outcomes from major international AI forums, the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to translate global discussions into practical development outcomes aligned with national priorities under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India Initiative. The summit will also strengthen multilateral cooperation on responsible and ethical use of AI. The summit will be anchored on three foundational principles, referred to as Sutras, guiding multilateral cooperation for impact-oriented AI deployment. These principles will be operationalised through seven Chakras, representing key areas of collaboration.
The Chakras focus on human capital development, social inclusion, safe and trusted AI, resilience and sustainability, scientific research, democratisation of AI resources, and AI for economic growth and social good. Together, they provide a framework for aligning global AI strategies with inclusive and sustainable outcomes. The summit will feature a series of presummit events, regional AI conferences across eight Indian states, and thematic sessions during the main summit. Over 700 proposals have been received from global stakeholders, reflecting strong international engagement.
