New Delhi: The upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being positioned as a landmark global event that will influence India’s approach to responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence, senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and IndiaAI said during a recent Digital India outreach programme.
During the 38th episode of ‘Digital India: Ask Our Experts’, officials highlighted that the summit will focus on translating AI policy into real-world outcomes across sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture and governance, while ensuring that people remain at the centre of technological progress. h
The summit is structured around three guiding pillars—People, Planet and Progress—supported by thematic working groups that are expected to feed into future AI policy frameworks, skilling strategies and implementation models, not just for India but also for the Global South.
A key highlight will be the India AI Impact Expo 2026, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16–20, which will showcase deployable AI solutions with measurable social impact. The expo will feature use cases developed by startups, public sector organisations and innovators, demonstrating how AI can address on-ground challenges.
Officials also underlined opportunities for startups, students, women innovators and youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, including access to AI and data labs, global challenges, pitch events and initiatives such as the YUVAI Global Youth Challenge. Queries from citizens on jobs, AI infrastructure, open data access, healthcare datasets and startup participation were addressed, with assurances of building open, secure and inclusive AI platforms.