Describing it as a moment of “immense pride” for the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 16 said the India AI Impact Summit highlights the strength of India’s youth and the country’s fast-paced growth in science and technology.
Leaders from the global tech industry, policymakers and startup founders have gathered in New Delhi for the five-day summit, along with the India AI Impact Expo 2026. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the event at Bharat Mandapam later in the day.
In a post on X, Modi said it was encouraging to see participants from around the world arriving in India. He added that the scale of the event reflects the talent of India’s young innovators and underlines the country’s steady advancement in cutting-edge technologies.
The Expo, being held from February 16 to 20, covers over 70,000 square metres across 10 themed arenas. It features more than 300 exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations built around the themes of People, Planet and Progress. Over 600 startups are participating, with several showcasing AI solutions already deployed on a large scale.
Thirteen countries have set up dedicated pavilions, including Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and a group of African nations. Alongside them, Union ministries, state governments, global technology companies and research bodies are also part of the showcase.
Organisers have lined up more than 500 sessions featuring over 3,250 speakers and panellists. The event is expected to draw upwards of 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates.
A key highlight under the IndiaAI Mission is the launch of 12 indigenous foundation AI models developed by Indian startups and research groups. These models, trained on extensive Indian datasets and designed to operate in 22 official languages, are aimed at boosting domestic AI capability and reducing dependence on foreign platforms.
Calling the summit a reflection of India’s expanding role in global development, Modi said the country is steadily positioning itself at the centre of the evolving AI landscape.
With over 800 million internet users and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem, the government is projecting India as a major player in the global AI market, which it estimates could exceed 17 billion US dollars by 2027.