New Delhi: India will host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16–20 next year, marking the first time the global AI summit series is being held in the Global South. The government said the move underscores India’s expanding role in shaping global discussions on artificial intelligence, following its participation in platforms such as the UK AI Safety Summit, AI Seoul Summit, the Paris AI Action Summit—which India co-chaired—and the Global AI Summit on Africa.
According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the summit aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of democratising technology and leveraging AI to solve real-world challenges across sectors. The government said India has adopted an “inclusive and innovation-friendly approach” to AI governance, informed by global regulatory frameworks and extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The 2026 summit will focus on seven thematic priorities, referred to as the ‘Seven Chakras’—Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe & Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency, Democratising AI Resources, and AI for Economic Development and Social Good. These themes will anchor deliberations on AI safety, data governance, transparency, human-centred development, and accountability frameworks.
Unlike conventional regulatory discussions, the summit aims to generate long-term governance recommendations instead of immediate binding rules. Minister of State for Electronics & IT Jitin Prasada informed Parliament that India’s objective is to contribute to “harmonised international cooperation” on responsible AI development, reflecting the country’s ambition to shape global AI norms while strengthening domestic innovation.