The India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi witnessed an overwhelming surge in participation on its second day, with registrations crossing three lakh, reflecting growing national and global enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. The venue saw significantly higher footfall as policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students gathered to engage in discussions and demonstrations focused on the future of AI and its real-world applications.
Following an opening day marked by long queues and organisational challenges, Day 2 unfolded with improved coordination and a more structured atmosphere despite even larger crowds. While visitor numbers continued to rise sharply, the overall environment appeared more organised and optimistic, with participants reporting a smoother experience. The scale of interest proved so large that the summit’s official website stopped accepting new registrations due to capacity limitations, prompting authorities to advise additional participants to join sessions virtually.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the summit had received an exceptionally strong response, noting that registrations had already reached nearly 2.5 lakh by the end of the first day before crossing the three-lakh mark shortly thereafter. The exhibition zones emerged as the primary attraction, drawing dense crowds into pavilion areas where visitors explored live demonstrations, interactive installations, and emerging AI technologies showcased by around 600 startups, along with 13 international country pavilions and several Union government ministries.
Students and researchers from multiple northern states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, travelled in large numbers to attend the event, many having registered weeks in advance. Despite earlier concerns about crowd management, several attendees acknowledged noticeable improvements in logistics on the second day and described the experience as worthwhile. The bustling environment was further shaped by the presence of investors, delegates, administrative teams, security personnel, and startup founders, contributing to a vibrant and energetic atmosphere across the venue.
A major highlight of Day 2 was a session dedicated to artificial intelligence in public healthcare, where Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel emphasised that India’s AI strategy prioritises inclusivity and societal benefit rather than technology for its own sake. She described AI as “All-Inclusive Intelligence,” highlighting its growing role across healthcare systems, including disease surveillance, diagnostics, and treatment support. Initiatives discussed included multilingual AI-enabled disease monitoring systems, genomic tools under the One Health Mission to anticipate zoonotic outbreaks, and portable AI-powered X-ray devices used in tuberculosis detection. According to the minister, AI-assisted tools have already contributed to improved case detection and better treatment outcomes while continuing to rely on human medical expertise.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also addressed the gathering, encouraging young people to embrace artificial intelligence without fear and view it as a catalyst for achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047. He emphasised collaboration between universities, startups, and industry to position India as a global knowledge hub in AI, noting that the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity presents unique opportunities for AI-driven innovation.
In a key announcement, Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that sovereign AI models developed using Indian datasets were showcased at the summit and had demonstrated performance comparable to leading global systems on major benchmarks. Twelve organisations, including startups, academic institutions, and industry groups, have been selected to develop both large and small language models tailored to India’s needs. He added that the upcoming AI Mission 2.0 would focus on expanding infrastructure and improving nationwide access to such sovereign AI capabilities. The minister also disclosed that investment commitments exceeding Rs 20,000 crore had been finalised, expected to materialise over the next one to two years.
Addressing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly the rise of deepfakes, Vaishnaw said stronger regulatory measures are under consideration to protect users, especially children. The government has initiated consultations with social media platforms and industry stakeholders to explore safeguards such as stricter compliance mechanisms and potential age-based restrictions, reiterating that all technology companies must operate within India’s legal and constitutional framework.
Responding to criticism over logistical difficulties on the first day, the minister apologised for the inconvenience and said a dedicated “war room” had been established to resolve operational issues in real time. Organisers are working continuously to improve crowd management, streamline entry procedures, and ensure smoother coordination for the remaining days of the event.
Scheduled from February 16 to 20, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being positioned as the first major global AI summit hosted in the Global South and the fourth in an international series that began at Bletchley Park in 2023, followed by Seoul in 2024 and Paris in 2025. With participation from more than 110 countries, dozens of ministers and heads of state, and around 30 international organisations, the New Delhi gathering aims to shape global conversations on AI governance and development.
Guided by the themes of People, Planet, and Progress and structured around seven thematic focus areas, the summit seeks to promote human-centric, inclusive, and development-oriented artificial intelligence. While the opening day tested logistical preparedness, the strong turnout and renewed momentum on Day 2 highlighted the scale of India’s ambitions in the AI sector and underscored how artificial intelligence has moved from a distant concept to an active and ongoing global conversation unfolding at Bharat Mandapam.
