Dilip Guha, Sasraya News ★ New Delhi : India is set to host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from 16–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, positioning itself at the forefront of global conversations on inclusive and responsible artificial intelligence. Envisioned as the first global AI summit to be held in the Global South, the event will bring together governments, industry leaders, researchers, startups, students and citizens from across the world. Anchored on the pillars of People, Planet and Progress, the Summit aims to move beyond high-level discussions and deliver tangible, development-oriented outcomes aligned with India’s national priorities, focusing on economic growth, social development and the sustainable use of AI.
In the lead-up to the Summit, the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with All India Society for Electronics and Computer Technology, flagged off “Kaushal Rath,” a mobile Artificial Intelligence awareness initiative under the National AI Literacy Programme “Yuva AI for All.” The initiative was launched from India Gate by Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology. The launch underscores the government’s commitment to expanding digital capacity and ensuring that AI awareness reaches youth across regions, especially in semi-urban and underserved areas.
Kaushal Rath is a fully equipped mobile computer laboratory fitted with internet-enabled systems, audio-visual tools and structured training modules. It will travel to schools, colleges, ITIs and community spaces, offering hands-on exposure to AI and Generative AI tools through trained facilitators and contextualised Indian use cases. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by expanding access to foundational AI education and enabling on-the-spot registration for the “Yuva AI for All” course.
Speaking at the launch, Shri Jitin Prasada said that through the Yuva AI for All initiative and the Kaushal Rath, AI awareness is being taken directly to young people across the country. He noted that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that access to opportunity transcends geography and demography, and described it as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Smt. Kavita Bhatia, Scientist G, MeitY and COO of the IndiaAI Mission, highlighted that skilling is one of the seven core pillars of the Mission and that Kaushal Rath advances the goal of democratising AI education at scale through instructor-led training, micro- and nano-credentials and nationwide outreach.
A key feature of the Summit will be the AI Impact Expo, which will showcase practical AI applications across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, climate action, energy efficiency and accessibility. These demonstrations are intended to help citizens understand how AI can address real-world challenges and improve service delivery. The Summit will also spotlight national skilling initiatives like “Yuva AI for All,” a free, four-hour self-paced course comprising six modules that focus on AI concepts, ethics and real-world applications without requiring prior coding knowledge. Delivered in collaboration with partners including FutureSkills Prime, iGOT Karmayogi, Coursera and TCS iON, the programme offers certification upon completion and aims to foster a future-ready workforce.
The five-day Summit will feature more than 700 sessions addressing themes such as AI safety, governance, ethical use, data protection and India’s approach to sovereign AI, including the development of indigenous foundation models for strategic sectors. Seven thematic working groups, co-chaired by representatives from the Global North and Global South, will present concrete deliverables such as proposals for AI Commons, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure and sector-specific compendiums of AI use cases. Participants will gain insights into the impact of AI on professions and industries, emerging skills required in the evolving job market, opportunities for startups to connect with investors and partners, and AI’s role in supporting farmers, small businesses and service providers.
Citizens are encouraged to approach the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as a learning and engagement opportunity by reviewing the agenda, preparing questions, and actively participating in sessions. With its focus on inclusivity, sustainability and measurable outcomes, the Summit aims to equip participants with the knowledge and direction needed to navigate the AI-driven future with confidence and clarity.
