Shaping Global AI for Inclusive Development: India–AI Impact Summit 2026
1. India AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled from 16–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a five-day programme spanning policy, research, industry, and public engagement.
2. The Summit is described as the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, bringing leaders, policymakers, companies, innovators, and experts together.
3. The Summit is anchored on three foundational pillars called Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress, intended as guiding principles for impact-oriented cooperation.
4. The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is expected to feature over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries across more than 10 thematic pavilions; figures are tentative.
5. The Summit aligns with Viksit Bharat by 2047 and connects with the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India Initiative for development-focused AI outcomes.
6. The Summit outlines AI benefits for People, including telemedicine, diagnostics, adaptive education, and fraud detection, aiming to expand access and strengthen systems.
7. For the Planet, it highlights AI in agriculture through crop prediction, precision farming, drone monitoring, and advisory support using weather, pest, and irrigation data.
8. For Progress, it notes AI-assisted translation of court judgments, smart city optimisation, improved service delivery, and everyday efficiency in mobility services.
9. Pre-Summit Events are organised in India and abroad to facilitate consultations and thematic discussions involving governments, academia, industry, startups, and civil society.
10. Eight Regional AI Conferences were held between October 2025 and January 2026 across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Telangana.
11. The Main Summit sessions are structured around seven Chakras, and the programme reports receiving over 700 proposals, indicating strong global participation.
12. The AI Compendium will be released on 17 February 2026, presenting thematic casebooks on real-world AI applications across priority sectors.
13. The AI for ALL Global Impact Challenge is partnered with Startup India and the Digital India Bhashini Division, offering awards up to INR 2.50 crore.
14. The AI by HER Global Impact Challenge partners the NITI Aayog Women Entrepreneurship Platform, showcasing women-led AI solutions, with awards up to INR 2.50 crore.
15. The YUVAi Global Youth Challenge targets ages 13–21, partnered with MyBharat and NIELIT, offering prizes worth up to INR 85 lakh.
- India–AI Impact Summit 2026: Event Schedule and Key Programmes
| Date | Event | Venue |
| 16–20 February 2026 | AI Impact Expo | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| 16 February 2026 | Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables | Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi |
| 17 February 2026 | Release of Knowledge Compendiums on AI in Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture, Gender Empowerment, Accessibility | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Seminar on Applied AI | ||
| AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge | Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi | |
| Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables | Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi | |
| 18 February 2026 | Research Symposium | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Industry Session | ||
| AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge | Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi | |
| Keynotes, Panel Discussions, Roundtables | Bharat Mandapam/ Sushma Swaraj Bhawan/ Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi | |
| Summit Dinner | Convention Centre, New Delhi | |
| 19 February 2026 | Opening Ceremony | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
|
| Leaders’ Plenary | ||
| CEO Roundtable | ||
| Keynotes / Panel Discussion/ Roundtables | Bharat Mandapam / Sushma Swaraj Bhawan / Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi | |
| 20 February 2026 | GPAI Council Meeting | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Keynotes/ Panel Discussion/ Roundtables | Bharat Mandapam / Sushma Swaraj Bhawan / Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi |
MUST-KNOW TERMS
1. India–AI Impact Summit 2026:
India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is a global artificial intelligence summit scheduled from 16–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South and focuses on translating AI discussions into development outcomes aligned with national priorities, governance needs, and inclusive growth objectives under the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India.
2. IndiaAI Mission:
IndiaAI Mission is a flagship national initiative aimed at building a robust, inclusive, and responsible artificial intelligence ecosystem in India. It focuses on AI compute infrastructure, indigenous AI models, datasets, skilling, startup support, and ethical deployment, ensuring AI adoption strengthens governance, economic growth, and public service delivery across sectors.
3. Three Sutras:
The Three Sutras—People, Planet, and Progress—are the foundational pillars of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026. They guide AI deployment toward inclusive social outcomes, environmental sustainability, and governance efficiency. These principles emphasize people-centric AI, sustainable resource use, and technology-enabled institutional progress through multilateral cooperation.
4. Seven Chakras:
Seven Chakras represent key areas of multilateral cooperation at the Summit, including Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience and Innovation, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, and AI for Economic Growth and Social Good. These Chakras structure discussions to align AI strategies with inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
5. AI Impact Expo 2026:
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is a large-scale exhibition organised by MeitY with STPI as custodian. Spread over 70,000 square metres, it showcases AI transition from research to deployment, featuring innovators, startups, investors, and thematic pavilions demonstrating sector-specific AI solutions.
6. AI Compendium:
The AI Compendium is a knowledge output of the Summit to be released on 17 February 2026. It contains thematic casebooks documenting real-world AI applications across priority sectors such as health, education, agriculture, energy, and governance, serving as a reference for practitioners and policymakers.
Key Takeaways
- The India–AI Impact Summit 2026will be the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South.
- It will be held from 16 to 20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a five-day programme covering policy, research, industry, and public engagement.
- It will be anchored on 3 foundational pillars, or ‘Sutras’: People, Planet and Progress.
- The India AI Impact Expo is expected to feature over 300 exhibitors, from 30 Countries, across more than 10 thematic pavilions.
MCQ
1. The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 will be held at which location?
A. Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
B. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
C. Hyderabad International Convention Centre
D. India Habitat Centre
2. The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is described as:
A. First AI summit hosted by G20 nations
B. First AI summit focused on private corporations
C. First global AI summit hosted in the Global South
D. First regional AI summit in Asia
3. Which of the following are the Three Sutras of the Summit?
1. People
2. Planet
3. Prosperity
4. Progress
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
4. The Seven Chakras of the Summit primarily relate to:
A. Military applications of artificial intelligence
B. Areas of multilateral cooperation for AI impact
C. AI hardware manufacturing standards
D. National security classifications of AI
5. The AI Compendium associated with the Summit will be released on:
A. 16 February 2026
B. 17 February 2026
C. 18 February 2026
D. 20 February 2026
6. The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is organised by MeitY with which institution as custodian?
A. NITI Aayog
B. National Informatics Centre
C. Software Technology Parks of India
D. Digital India Corporation
7. Which initiative focuses on women-led innovation in artificial intelligence?
A. AI for ALL
B. YUVAi
C. AI by HER
D. IndiaAI Mission
8. Regional AI Conferences preceding the Summit were held across how many Indian states?
A. Five
B. Six
C. Seven
D. Eight
9. The IndiaAI Mission primarily focuses on all EXCEPT:
A. AI compute infrastructure
B. Indigenous AI models
C. Ethical AI adoption
D. Nuclear technology development
10. Which Chakra focuses on responsible and interoperable AI governance frameworks?
A. Human Capital
B. Safe and Trusted AI
C. Science
D. Democratizing AI Resources
11. AI for ALL Global Impact Challenge offers awards up to:
A. INR 85 lakh
B. INR 1 crore
C. INR 2.50 crore
D. INR 5 crore
12. YUVAi Global Youth Challenge targets which age group?
A. 10–15 years
B. 12–18 years
C. 13–21 years
D. 18–25 years
13. The Summit aligns most closely with which long-term national vision?
A. Make in India 2030
B. Digital India 2025
C. Viksit Bharat by 2047
D. Skill India Mission
14. The Seven Chakras are intended to promote:
A. Centralised AI control systems
B. Competitive AI regulation models
C. Inclusive and sustainable societal outcomes
D. Exclusive national AI strategies
15. Which sector is NOT explicitly highlighted as a priority AI application area in the Summit?
A. Healthcare
B. Agriculture
C. Education
D. Space weapon systems
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