PM Modi Inaugurates India AI
Impact Summit 2026
Ø Artificial Intelligence marks a transformative
chapter in human history
Ø We must democratise AI; It must become
a tool for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South
Ø PM outlines the M.A.N.A.V. vision for
AI - Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible
and Inclusive, Valid and Legitimate
Ø We are entering an era where humans and
intelligent systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve; AI will make our work smarter,
more efficient and more impactful: PM
Ø We must develop a collective resolve of
AI for Global Common Good: PM
Ø In AI, India sees opportunity and the
blueprint of tomorrow: PM
India AI Impact Summit 2026 – PM Modi’s
Vision
Key Highlights
·
PM Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam,
New Delhi.
·
Summit theme: “Sarvajan Hitaya,
Sarvajan Sukhaya” – Welfare
for all, Happiness of all.
·
Participation: Over 100 countries, 500+ global AI leaders, 20+ Heads
of State, and major industry figures.
PM Modi’s Core Messages
·
AI as a historic turning point: Comparable to sparks from stones, invention of script,
and wireless signals.
·
AI multiplies human capability: Fast, deep, wide impact unlike past technologies.
·
AI must be human-centric: Sensitive, responsible, and directed toward solutions.
·
Democratization of AI: Tool for inclusion and empowerment, especially for the Global South.
·
Transparency & trust: Open code, shared development, watermarking, authenticity labels for digital
content.
India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI
·
M – Moral and Ethical Systems: Ethical guidelines for AI.
·
A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules, oversight.
·
N – National Sovereignty: Data ownership rights.
·
A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI as a multiplier, not monopoly.
·
V – Valid and Legitimate: Lawful, verifiable AI systems.
Future of Work & Human Potential
·
AI will create new jobs, industries, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
·
Emphasis on skilling, reskilling, lifelong learning as a mass movement.
·
Humans and intelligent systems will co-create, co-work, co-evolve.
Safeguards & Global Standards
·
AI must remain under human command (like GPS guidance).
·
Child safety and family-guided AI emphasized.
India’s Strengths & Invitation
·
Strong ecosystem: semiconductors, quantum computing, secure data centers, IT backbone, startups.
·
Diversity, demography, democracy make India a natural hub for scalable
AI solutions.
·
Call to the world: “Design and Develop in India. Deliver to the World.
Deliver to Humanity.”
Conclusion
·
PM Modi: AI is a transformative power—disruptive if directionless,
but a solution if guided.
·
India sees fortune and future in AI, backed by talent, scale, and
policy clarity.
·
India positions itself as a leader in AI for global common good.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 19 February,
2026. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Modi remarked that the world’s
largest and historic AI Impact Summit is being held in India, a nation representing
one-sixth of humanity. He highlighted that India is home to the world’s largest
youth population, the biggest tech talent pool, and a thriving tech-enabled ecosystem.
He emphasized that India not only creates new technologies but also adopts them
at an unprecedented pace. The Prime Minister noted that 140 crore Indians are eager
to embrace new technologies and, on their behalf, he extended a warm welcome to
Heads of Governments, leaders of the global AI ecosystem, and innovators participating
in the summit. He expressed gratitude for their presence and underlined that hosting
this summit in India is a matter of pride not only for the country but also for
the entire Global South.
Pointing out that the summit has brought
together the “who’s who” of the AI world, with representation from over 100 countries
and distinguished participants from across the globe, taking its success to new
heights, Mr. Modi highlighted the strong presence of the young generation at the
summit, which he said instills new confidence. He observed
that while new technologies often face initial skepticism,
the speed and trust with which the youth worldwide are accepting AI, taking ownership
of it, and using it, is unprecedented. The Prime Minister also remarked on the enthusiasm
surrounding the AI Summit’s exhibition, particularly the large participation of
young talent. He highlighted that solutions presented in areas such as agriculture,
security, assistance for divyangjan, and meeting the needs
of multilingual populations reflect the strength of ‘Made in India’ and showcase
India’s innovative capabilities in the AI field.
Prime Minister remarked that in human
history, every few centuries a turning point emerges that resets the direction of
civilization. He highlighted that such moments change the pace of development and
transform paradigms of thinking, understanding, and working. He observed that during
such periods of transformation, the true impact is often not immediately understood.
He recalled that when sparks were first generated from stones, no one imagined that
the same spark would become the foundation of civilization. Mr. Modi noted that
when spoken language was first converted into script, no one realized that written
knowledge would become the backbone of future systems. He further remarked that
when signals were first transmitted wirelessly, no one could have imagined that
one day the entire world would be connected in real time.
“Artificial Intelligence represents a
transformation of the same magnitude as historic turning points in human civilization”,
remarked Mr. Modi, highlighting that what is being seen and predicted today are
only the initial signs of its impact. He stated that AI is making machines intelligent,
but more importantly, it is multiplying human capability many times over. The Prime
Minister emphasized that the difference this time lies in the unprecedented speed
and unexpected scale. He noted that earlier, the impact of technology took decades
to manifest, but today, the journey from machine learning to learning machines is
fast, deep, and wide. He underlined that this requires a larger vision and equally
greater responsibility. Mr. Modi stressed that along with the present generation,
there must also be concern about the form of AI that will be handed over to future
generations. He remarked that the real question is not what AI can do in the future,
but what humanity chooses to do with AI in the present. Drawing parallels with nuclear
power, the Prime Minister noted that humanity has witnessed both its destructive
potential and its positive contributions. He asserted that AI too is a transformative
power—if directionless, it leads to disruption, but with the right direction, it
becomes a solution. Mr. Modi highlighted that the core purpose of the Global AI
Impact Summit is to deliberate on how AI can be made human-centric rather than machine-centric,
and how it can be made sensitive and responsible.
Prime Minister Modi remarked that India’s
vision for AI is clearly reflected in the theme of the summit— ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’—Welfare for all, Happiness of all. He emphasized
that this is the benchmark for India. He cautioned that humans must not become mere
data points or raw material for AI, and therefore AI must be democratized. He highlighted
that AI should serve as a medium of inclusion and empowerment, especially in the
Global South.
The Prime Minister stated that AI must
be given an open sky, while command must remain in human hands. He compared this
to GPS, which suggests the route but leaves the final decision to the user. He underlined
that the direction in which humanity takes AI today will determine the future.
At the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, the
Prime Minister presented India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI. He explained that M.A.N.A.V.
stands for:
·
M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must be based on ethical guidelines.
·
A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight.
·
N – National Sovereignty: Data belongs to its rightful owner.
·
A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI must not be a monopoly, but a multiplier.
·
V – Valid and Legitimate: AI must be lawful and verifiable.
He asserted that India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision
will become a crucial link for humanity’s welfare in the AI-driven world of the
21st century.
Prime Minister Modi remarked that decades
ago, when the internet began, no one could imagine how many jobs it would create.
He highlighted that the same is true for AI today, as it is difficult to predict
what kinds of jobs will emerge in the future. He emphasized that the future of work
in AI is not pre-defined, but will depend on collective decisions and actions.
Mr. Modi stated that the future of work is a new opportunity, marking an era where
humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work, and co-evolve. He underlined
that AI will make work smarter, more efficient, and more impactful, enabling better
design, faster building, and improved decision-making.
Mr. Modi noted that AI will also open
higher-value, creative, and meaningful roles for more people, creating opportunities
for innovation, entrepreneurship, and new industries. He stressed the importance
of making skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning a mass movement.
Asserting that the future of work will
be inclusive, trusted, and human-centric, the Prime Minister remarked that if humanity
moves forward together, Artificial Intelligence will elevate human potential to
new heights.
Prime Minister remarked that transparency
is the greatest safeguard, noting the saying “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
He observed that while some countries and companies consider AI a strategic asset
to be developed confidentially, India believes AI will benefit the world only when
it is shared. He emphasized that open code and shared development will allow millions
of young minds to make AI better and safer. He called for a collective resolve to
develop AI as a Global Common Good.
Highlighting the urgent need for global
standards, the Prime Minister pointed out that deepfakes and fabricated content
are destabilizing open societies. Drawing a parallel with nutrition labels on food,
he said that digital content too must carry authenticity labels so people can distinguish
between real and AI-generated material. Mr. Modi underlined the growing need for
watermarking and clear source standards as AI increasingly generates text, images,
and videos, stressing that trust must be built into technology from the start.
Emphasising the importance of child safety,
the Prime Minister stated that just as school syllabi are curated, the AI space
must also be child-safe and family-guided. He remarked that today there are two
kinds of people—those who see fear in AI and those who see fortune. He asserted
that India sees fortune and future in AI, backed by talent, energy capacity, and
policy clarity. Mr. Modi expressed happiness that three Indian companies have launched
their AI models and apps during the summit. He said these models reflect the talent
of India’s youth and showcase the depth and diversity of solutions that India is
contributing to the global AI landscape.
Prime Minister Modi remarked that India
is building a resilient ecosystem ranging from semiconductors and chip-making to
quantum computing. He highlighted that secure data centers,
a strong IT backbone, and a dynamic startup ecosystem make India a natural hub for
affordable, scalable, and secure AI solutions. Mr. Modi emphasized that India possesses
diversity, demography, and democracy. He noted that any AI model that succeeds in
India can be deployed globally. He extended an invitation to the world with the
call: ‘Design and Develop in India. Deliver to the World. Deliver to Humanity’.
He concluded by conveying his best wishes to all participants.
President of the Republic of France, H.E.
Mr Emmanuel Macron, Secretary General of United Nations, Heads of State, ministers,
senior representatives from multilateral institutions and tech and AI industry leaders
were present among other dignitaries at the event.
Background
The theme of India AI Impact Summit 2026
is सर्वजन हिताय, सर्वजन सुखाय i.e. welfare for all, happiness of all.
It aims to position India as a leader in the field of AI and envisions a future
where AI advances humanity, fosters inclusive growth, and safeguards our shared
planet.
Seven Working Groups anchor the Summit,
aligned to three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. These groups will work on
delivering concrete outcomes demonstrating AI’s impact across sectors. The seven
themes are: AI for Economic Growth and Social Good; Democratizing AI Resources;
Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Human Capital; Science; Resilience,
Innovation and Efficiency.
The Summit will bring together more than
500 Global AI Leaders, including CEOs/CXOs, around 100 CEOs and Founders, 150 Academicians
and Researchers, and 400 CTOs, VPs, and Philanthropists. It will also engage over
100 government representatives, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government
and around 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers.