The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, today held a high-level press conference ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, chaired by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics & Information Technology. The event was also attended by Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics & IT; Shri Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and other senior MeitY officials. The press conference outlined key developments, confirmed global participation, and previewed the India AI Impact Summit’s anticipated outcomes as India prepares to host the first-ever global AI summit in the Global South from February 16–20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Addressing the audience, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the India AI Impact Summit has received a phenomenal response from across the world and is shaping up to be the biggest AI summit so far globally. He referred to the recent interactions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with industry leaders, developers and innovators working across the AI value chain, including models, applications and infrastructure, noting that these engagements reflected the systematic progress of India’s AI ecosystem and a strong focus on deployment-led solutions. The Minister stated that leading IT companies have developed more than 200 focused, sector-specific AI models, which are proposed to be launched during the AI Impact Summit. He further said that investments worth nearly USD 70 billion are already flowing into the AI infrastructure layer, with the potential to double by the conclusion of the Summit, and that AI talent development will be scaled up by extending AI infrastructure and industry-finalised curricula to 500 universities, creating a strong talent pipeline for the sector.

A Compendium featuring reflections from around 60 leading industry experts on the future of AI and its role in driving inclusive growth, innovation, and societal impact, titled “The Impact Agenda: Leadership Reflections” was also launched by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The conference drew attention to the milestones achieved in the lead up to the Summit and outlined what was to be expected during the landmark convening of industry, governments, academia, and civil society. Shri S. Krishnan highlighted that hybrid meetings of all seven thematic Working Groups anchored around the Sutras of People, Planet and Progress have successfully concluded, with their core deliverables now at an advanced stage of finalisation. In parallel, all seven Regional AI Impact Conferences held across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala have concluded, firmly grounding national AI priorities in regional strengths, use cases, and governance contexts. The Summit’s deeply participatory model is also reflected in the successful completion of nearly 480+ Pre-Summit events across India and globally, including 83 international engagements across 30 countries, with further activities scheduled through February 10, 2026.

Addressing the gathering, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary (MeitY) said that the central objective of the India AI Impact Summit is to advance the democratisation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to ensure that its benefits reach a wide cross-section of society. He noted that as the first global AI summit being hosted in the Global South, the Summit places emphasis on aligning approaches to AI governance and standards, with the aim of fostering a shared global understanding on the safe and responsible deployment of AI in real-world applications.

Additionally, it was announced that the Summit week will feature around 500+ curated events across Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, enabling parallel leader-level dialogues, exhibitions, and outcome-oriented sessions. The AI Impact Expo will host 840+ exhibitors, including Country Pavilions, Ministries, State Governments, Industry, Startups, and Research Institutions, showcasing AI solutions with proven real-world impact. IndiaAI will also demonstrate progress on India’s foundational AI models.

Furthermore, the conference confirmed participation of 15 Heads of State/Government, 40+ Ministers, over 100 leading CEOs and CXOs, and more than 100 eminent academics. Industry engagement has emerged as a cornerstone of the Summit. Industry partners including Jio, Qualcomm, OpenAI, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and the Gates Foundation are expected to join the Summit.

The press conference reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to ensuring that AI remains safe, trusted, and inclusive, while driving innovation, economic growth, and societal impact through the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

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MSZ