Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key driver of India’s development by enhancing governance, improving public services and delivering scalable solutions nationwide.As AI is rapidly transforming sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, climate action and governance, the upcoming India-AI Impact Summit, 2026, scheduled to be held from February 16-20 in New Delhi, aims to contribute towards harmonising global cooperation for development and deployment of artificial intelligence.As the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, it will bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology companies, innovators and experts to showcase and deliberate on the transformative potential of AI for inclusive growth, governance and sustainable development.Reflecting upon its core objectives, the summit will deliberate its thematic priorities, referred as seven ‘Chakras’ — Human Capital, Inclusive for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Science, Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency, Democratising AI Resources and AI for Economic Development and Social Good.Ahead of the summit, the government has highlighted that India ranked third in Stanford University’s 2025 Global AI Vibrancy Ranking, driven by strong data infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and demography.According to the Stanford Global AI Index, India’s AI skill penetration is 2.5 times higher than the global average in comparable occupations. Additionally, 87% of Indian enterprises are actively using AI solutions, the NASSCOM AI Adoption Index reported.According to the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index, India scored 49.3, surpassing the 42.1 average of other emerging and developing economies, indicating that the country is well-positioned to adopt and leverage Artificial Intelligence.According to the government information, India is among the leading AI-ready nations, making systematic progress across all five layers of AI architecture: applications, models, chips, infrastructure, and energy. According to a report by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the global AI market has grown from USD 103.6 billion in 2020 to USD 288.8 billion in 2024. In the same period, India’s AI market expanded from USD 2.97 billion to USD 7.63 billion and is projected to reach USD 131.31 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 42.2%.The Government of India is promoting AI-driven technological development through various initiatives aiming to ensure “Welfare for All, Happiness for All.” These efforts focus on enhancing productivity, creating new jobs and boosting the nation’s global competitiveness.India’s strategic advantage in AI lies in its youthful workforce, with over 65% of the population under 35. This large, tech-savvy talent pool can be trained for AI-driven industries, providing a strong foundation for innovation, digital services, and future-ready employment opportunities. Moreover, the digital transformation is supported by robust infrastructure, including data centres and widespread internet connectivity, enabling cloud adoption, AI implementation and data-driven governance.20 world leaders to attend summitAt the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at least 20 global leaders are scheduled to attend the upcoming AI Impact Summit.These global leaders include Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay; Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Estonia President Alar Karis; Finland PM Petteri Orpo; France President Emmanuel Macron; Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Kazakhstan PM Olzhas Bektenov; Mauritius PM Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam; Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić; Spain President Pedro Sánchez Pérez; Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Disanayaka; Switzerland President Guy Parmelin; the Netherlands PM Dick Schoof; and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
