THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 30, 2026

India’s rapidly maturing artificial intelligence ecosystem is drawing unprecedented global attention, with the India AI Impact Summit 2026 emerging as a landmark platform that underscores the country’s systematic and deployment-driven approach to AI development.

Addressing a high-level press conference in New Delhi on Friday, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Summit has received a phenomenal response from across the world, positioning it to become the largest global AI convening to date.

The press conference, organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ahead of the Summit scheduled from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, brought together senior policymakers and thought leaders, including Minister of State Jitin Prasada, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Ajay Sood, and top MeitY officials. The briefing outlined the scale, ambition and outcomes expected from the first-ever global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South.

Vaishnaw highlighted that recent interactions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with industry leaders, developers and innovators across the AI value chain reflect the steady and structured evolution of India’s AI ecosystem. Emphasising a strong focus on real-world deployment, the Minister noted that leading Indian IT companies have already developed more than 200 sector-specific AI models, which are proposed to be launched during the Summit. These models span critical areas such as healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, governance and education, reinforcing India’s intent to translate innovation into tangible economic and social value.

The Minister further pointed to the scale of investments flowing into the AI infrastructure layer, stating that nearly USD 70 billion is already being committed, with the potential for this figure to double by the conclusion of the Summit. To sustain this momentum, India is also significantly expanding its AI talent pipeline. AI infrastructure access and industry-aligned curricula are set to be extended to around 500 universities, a move aimed at creating a robust and future-ready workforce capable of supporting India’s growing AI ambitions.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of a compendium titled “The Impact Agenda: Leadership Reflections”, featuring insights from nearly 60 leading industry experts on the future of AI and its role in driving inclusive growth, innovation and societal impact. The publication captures diverse perspectives on how AI can be responsibly leveraged to address global challenges while unlocking new economic opportunities.

The press conference also shed light on the extensive groundwork undertaken in the run-up to the Summit. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan noted that hybrid meetings of all seven thematic Working Groups, structured around the Sutras of People, Planet and Progress, have concluded successfully, with their core deliverables now at an advanced stage. In parallel, seven Regional AI Impact Conferences held across states including Odisha, Gujarat and Kerala have ensured that national AI priorities are rooted in regional strengths and governance contexts.

Krishnan underscored that the central objective of the India AI Impact Summit is the democratisation of AI, ensuring that the benefits of advanced technologies reach a broad cross-section of society. As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event places special emphasis on aligning global approaches to AI governance, standards and responsible deployment.

During the Summit week, around 500 curated events will be held across Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, alongside an expansive AI Impact Expo featuring more than 840 exhibitors. With confirmed participation from Heads of State, Ministers, global CEOs, academics and leading industry players such as Jio, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI, the Summit is poised to cement India’s position as a pivotal force in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.