India’s growing influence in global artificial intelligence discourse will take centre stage as the country prepares to host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20 in New Delhi. The development reflects the government’s focus on democratizing technology and leveraging AI for solving real-world challenges across sectors.
The government has adopted an inclusive and innovation-driven approach to AI governance, shaped through extensive consultations and a study of international legal frameworks. A defining element of India’s AI strategy is its balanced techno-legal regulatory model, designed to encourage innovation while ensuring responsible and safe deployment of AI.
For the first time, the global AI summit series is being held in the Global South, signalling a shift towards a more participatory global conversation on AI. The upcoming Summit follows major global engagements including the UK AI Safety Summit, the AI Seoul Summit, the Paris AI Action Summit—co-chaired by India—and the Global AI Summit on Africa.
The thematic agenda of the Summit is structured around seven “Chakras” representing its core priorities: Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe & Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency, Democratizing AI Resources, and AI for Economic Development and Social Good. These themes cover key areas such as AI safety, data governance, transparency, accountability, and human-centred development.
The Summit aims to develop actionable recommendations focused on long-term AI governance rather than introducing immediate binding regulations. The details were shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada on Wednesday.