Published: 15 February 2026PIB / PM India / MeitYScience & Technology
PM Modi Inaugurates India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam; India Hosts First Global South AI Summit
On February 16, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi — formally launching the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that ran from February 16 to 21. This is the first time the Global AI Impact Summit series has been hosted by a Global South nation, organised under India's IndiaAI Mission by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The Summit is structured around three foundational pillars — People, Planet, and Progress (the 'Sutras') — with seven thematic working groups covering AI for economic growth, democratising AI resources, inclusion and social empowerment, safe and trusted AI, human capital, science, and resilience and innovation. The event witnessed approximately 6 lakh in-person attendees and over 9 lakh cumulative views via live virtual streaming, with delegations from over 100 countries and 20 international organisations. French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the summit. India positioned itself as a proponent of 'human-centric AI' rather than regulation-first approaches, signalling its ambition to lead AI governance in the developing world.
0Mains angle
Q: Analyse India's strategic positioning as a Global South leader in AI governance through the India AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted under the IndiaAI Mission and its 'human-centric AI' approach.
Answer (50 words):
PM Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam on February 16, 2026, running till February 21. The first Global South-hosted edition under the IndiaAI Mission drew delegations from 100 countries and 6 lakh in-person attendees. Macron and UN Secretary-General Guterres addressed, reflecting India's 'human-centric AI' ambition.
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CoverageInternationalSubjectScience & TechnologyExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB / PM India / MeitY
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PM Modi inaugurated India AI Impact Expo 2026 at which venue?
Explanation · Correct answer DPM Modi inaugurated India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IndiaAI Mission and what are its main objectives?
The IndiaAI Mission is a Government of India initiative to build India's AI ecosystem end-to-end — covering compute infrastructure (GPU clusters), large datasets, AI startup support, skilling programmes, and AI safety research — to position India as a global AI leader.
Why was the India AI Impact Expo 2026 historically significant for the Global South?
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 (February 16–21, 2026, Bharat Mandapam) was the first AI summit hosted by a Global South nation, signalling that developing economies are not merely consumers but active shapers of global AI governance and policy.
Which world leaders addressed the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and what did their presence indicate?
French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the summit, indicating international recognition of India's leadership in shaping inclusive, responsible AI frameworks for the developing world.
What scale of participation did the India AI Impact Expo 2026 see?
The summit drew participation from more than 100 countries and approximately 6 lakh (600,000) attendees over six days (February 16–21, 2026), making it one of the largest AI gatherings globally.
How does India's AI summit connect to the broader theme of Digital India for RPSC GK?
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is a landmark event under Digital India and the IndiaAI Mission, demonstrating India's use of technology policy for inclusive growth — relevant to RPSC topics on technology, governance, international relations, and India's global leadership.
