New Delhi: India is set to host the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026 from Monday, positioning itself at the centre of global conversations on inclusive, responsible and resilient artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at 5 pm at Bharat Mandapam, marking the formal opening of the multi-day global gathering.
The summit and expo are designed as a large-scale international platform bringing together governments, technology leaders, startups, academic institutions and policy experts to shape frameworks for human-centric AI growth.
Expo to showcase AI in action
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 will be conducted alongside the summit as a national-scale demonstration of applied artificial intelligence. According to organisers, the expo will feature more than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations.
The exhibition has been structured across three thematic “chakras” — People, Planet and Progress — highlighting AI solutions aimed at social welfare, environmental sustainability and economic growth.
More than 600 high-potential startups are expected to participate, presenting AI-driven products and prototypes across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, mobility, governance, education and climate resilience. The expo will also include 13 country pavilions, underlining international collaboration in the AI ecosystem.
Participants include global technology firms, Indian startups, universities, research bodies, central and state government departments and multilateral partners.
PM highlights youth and technology potential
Ahead of the summit, the Prime Minister said the event reflects India’s growing role in science and technology and the strength of its youth-driven innovation ecosystem. In a public message, he described the global participation as a matter of pride and a sign of India’s rapid progress in advanced technology domains.
He also announced the summit theme — Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya (welfare for all, happiness for all) — indicating that AI development should remain people-centric and socially beneficial.
Officials said the summit aims to push global consensus around safe, inclusive and development-oriented AI deployment, especially for emerging and developing economies.
Focus on road safety on opening day
The first day of the summit will focus on Artificial Intelligence for Road Safety, with dedicated sessions on how data-driven systems can help reduce accidents and improve mobility outcomes.
Experts from the transport sector, technical institutions and policy bodies will discuss how AI models can analyse crash patterns, predict high-risk zones and enable preventive interventions. Proposed use cases include smarter traffic systems, predictive alerts, driver training tools and hyperlocal safety mapping.
The sessions will also examine how scalable AI systems can support enforcement agencies and urban planners in designing safer road networks.
AI in learning, jobs and judiciary
Another major track on day one will examine the future of learning and work in the AI era. Policymakers and industry leaders will discuss how automation and AI tools are reshaping employment patterns and skill requirements.
The dialogue will cover reskilling at scale, curriculum redesign, industry-academia partnerships and new job categories emerging from AI-led industries.
A separate leadership session will focus on the judicial ecosystem, exploring how AI can improve efficiency, transparency and access to justice. Experts are expected to discuss AI-assisted legal research, automated case management, virtual court support systems and predictive analytics for case flow management.
The goal is to evaluate how technology can help reduce pendency and improve service delivery without compromising legal safeguards.
Agriculture and cultural context on agenda
Artificial Intelligence for Smart and Resilient Agriculture is another key theme scheduled for discussion. Sessions will explore how AI tools can support climate-resilient farming, crop forecasting, soil analytics and precision agriculture.
Researchers, agri-tech startups and policymakers will present pilot projects and scalable models aimed at improving productivity and sustainability for farmers.
The summit will also host discussions on culturally grounded AI and social norms. Experts will examine how AI systems often underperform when deployed across diverse societies because they fail to account for local language, behaviour and cultural context. The focus will be on building culturally aware and socially aligned AI systems.
First in series hosted in Global South
Organisers describe the event as the first global AI summit of this series to be hosted in the Global South. The objective is to ensure that developing nations have a stronger voice in shaping AI standards, governance frameworks and ethical guardrails.
The summit builds on extensive preparatory work, including five rounds of public consultations and international outreach sessions held across major global cities such as Paris, Berlin, Oslo, New York, Geneva, Bangkok and Tokyo.
Its guiding framework is built around three principles — People, Planet and Progress — intended to anchor AI policy and innovation around human welfare, environmental protection and inclusive economic development.
Conclusion
With large-scale participation, policy focus and live technology demonstrations, the AI Impact Summit and Expo aim to position India as a convening hub for responsible AI dialogue. The outcomes are expected to influence how artificial intelligence is governed, scaled and adapted for public good in both developed and emerging economies.