The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Global AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam on Monday, marking the beginning of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.
Ahead of the summit, the Prime Minister welcomed international delegates arriving in India, describing the event as a matter of pride for the country. In a post on X, he said the gathering reflects the capabilities of India’s youth and the nation’s rapid progress in science and technology, contributing significantly to global development.
Scheduled from February 16 to 20, the AI Impact Summit 2026 is the first major international AI summit hosted in the Global South. The event aims to shape discussions around inclusive, responsible, and impactful artificial intelligence.
At the centre of the summit is India’s push for sovereign AI. Under the IndiaAI Mission, the government is set to unveil 12 indigenous foundation models developed by Indian startups and research consortia. These models are trained on extensive domestic datasets and designed to support the country’s 22 official languages.
Innovations expected to be showcased include multilingual reasoning systems, sector-specific AI tools, voice-based technologies, and advanced reasoning models tailored for applications ranging from agriculture and healthcare to governance and education.
The AI Impact Expo, spread across 70,000 square metres, will demonstrate real-world AI applications, including precision farming solutions and tools for accessible education.
The summit’s agenda is built around three guiding themes — People, Planet, and Progress — and will feature seven thematic tracks covering skilling, sustainable AI, governance frameworks, and economic empowerment. Seven international working groups are also expected to propose collaborative initiatives such as shared computing infrastructure, AI commons for public good, and scalable use cases for developing nations.
With India’s AI market projected to exceed USD 17 billion by 2027, the summit is being seen as a significant step in positioning the country as a global AI leader. Backed by over 800 million internet users, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and strong digital public infrastructure, India aims to bridge innovation and societal impact in the evolving AI landscape.
The summit is expected to bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology experts, and industry pioneers to deliberate on the future of artificial intelligence and its role in shaping humanity’s collective future.
