Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared warm bonhomie with global leaders at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The Prime Minister was seen exchanging a cordial greeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Representing key voices of the Global South, the two leaders displayed a close personal rapport as they entered the venue together, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between India and Brazil, particularly in the areas of global technology governance and inclusive AI development.
PM Modi also shared a brief interaction with French President Emmanuel Macron before joining other dignitaries for the official family photograph – a symbolic moment reflecting international cooperation at the summit.
The summit follows an intensive round of diplomatic engagements on Wednesday, when PM Modi welcomed world leaders including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. He held nine bilateral meetings with heads of state and global technology leaders.
International dignitaries were received at Bharat Mandapam with a cultural showcase blending tradition and technology. Leaders such as Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay were welcomed to the sounds of traditional instruments including the nadaswaram and tanpura, creating a ceremonial atmosphere that highlighted India’s cultural heritage.
Other prominent leaders welcomed during the inaugural proceedings included Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, among others. Estonian President Alar Karis, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Guyanese Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo also participated, reflecting the summit’s global scale.
Beyond ceremonial engagements, the Prime Minister held seven bilateral meetings with world leaders and two exclusive interactions with global CEOs, including Sundar Pichai and Vinod Khosla.
The summit, themed ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (Welfare for All, Happiness of All), is structured around seven thematic areas such as Democratising AI Resources and Safe and Trusted AI, aligned with the pillars of People, Planet and Progress.
To mark the occasion, PM Modi hosted a formal dinner and cultural programme on Wednesday evening. Sharing images from the event, he said the showcase at Bharat Mandapam reflected India’s rich heritage and traditions, offering international guests a glimpse of the country’s civilisational depth alongside its technological ambitions.
(With ANI inputs)
