New Delhi on Monday emerged as the epicentre of global artificial intelligence dialogue as the India AI Impact Summit commenced at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together governments, technology leaders, startups, and researchers from across the world. Running from February 16 to 20, the summit highlights India’s growing ambition to position itself as a leading force in the global AI ecosystem, with the accompanying India AI Impact Expo 2026 presenting an expansive, immersive technology showcase.
Organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) serving as custodian, the event underscores the country’s push to integrate artificial intelligence across governance, industry, and society. According to the official summit website, the gathering aims to “make way for a technological revolution that would open unprecedented opportunities for advancements across every domain of human endeavour.”
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 stands out for its sheer scale. Spread across 10 arenas within Bharat Mandapam, the exhibition covers more than 70,000 square metres, making it one of the largest AI-focused showcases hosted in India. The expo has been designed as an experiential platform where visitors can engage with live demonstrations, emerging technologies, and real-world AI applications.
Global technology companies, startups, academic institutions, research organisations, government ministries, and international partners are participating, reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of AI development worldwide.
A major highlight of the event is the establishment of 13 country pavilions, symbolising growing international cooperation in artificial intelligence innovation and governance. Participating nations include Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and representatives from African nations.
These pavilions showcase national AI strategies, research breakthroughs, and collaborative opportunities, reinforcing India’s role as a convening platform for global technology diplomacy.
Beyond international participation, the expo features more than 300 curated exhibition pavilions organised under three thematic “chakras” — People, Planet, and Progress. The framework highlights AI’s transformative potential across social development, environmental sustainability, and economic growth, reflecting a holistic vision for technological advancement.
Innovation from India’s startup ecosystem forms a central pillar of the summit. More than 600 startups are participating, many already deploying population-scale AI solutions addressing real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and public services.
Under the IndiaAI Mission, the summit will also witness the unveiling of 12 indigenous foundation models developed by homegrown startups and collaborative consortia. These models are trained on Indian datasets and designed to serve the country’s multilingual population, supporting all 22 official languages of India. The initiative represents a significant step toward building sovereign AI capabilities tailored to local contexts and linguistic diversity.
Organisers expect the India AI Impact Expo to attract over 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates, policymakers, investors, and technology enthusiasts. The strong turnout reflects both global curiosity about India’s AI ecosystem and domestic enthusiasm for emerging technologies.
The intellectual backbone of the summit lies in its extensive knowledge sessions. Across four days, more than 500 sessions will be conducted, featuring keynote speeches, policy discussions, expert roundtables, and technical panels. Over 3,250 speakers and panellists are scheduled to participate, offering perspectives ranging from AI governance and ethics to industrial deployment and frontier research.
The scale and diversity of the India AI Impact Summit signal a broader shift in India’s technological narrative — from being primarily a consumer of digital technologies to becoming a creator and global collaborator in advanced AI systems. By combining policy dialogue, innovation showcases, and international participation, the summit seeks to accelerate responsible AI adoption while fostering inclusive technological growth.
As discussions unfold over the coming days, the event is poised not only to showcase technological breakthroughs but also to shape conversations on how artificial intelligence can be harnessed for equitable and sustainable global progress.
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