New Delhi witnessed the launch of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Monday, bringing together top policymakers and leaders who underscored the critical role of artificial intelligence in fostering inclusive development across the nation.
India’s Chief Economic Adviser, V. Anant Nageswaran, issued a stark warning: every year of delay in AI advancement narrows the window for economic and technological opportunities. Speaking at the summit, he emphasized that India must act now to harness AI’s benefits for inclusive growth.
“India has the potential to become the first major economy where human prosperity and machine intelligence reinforce each other,” Nageswaran declared. He called for a united ‘Team India’ effort involving government, private sector, academia, and policymakers.
Strengthening foundational education and scaling high-quality skills training are non-negotiable, he added. AI progress won’t happen on its own—it demands readiness, political will, and robust capabilities.
The CEA outlined a clear roadmap: start with education and skills reforms, expand labor-intensive service sectors, and dismantle regulatory hurdles. Without deliberate action, social and economic instability looms large, he cautioned.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, echoed these sentiments, advocating for human-centric and democratically accessible AI development. “AI resources must be democratically accessible, placing people at the heart of technological change,” Krishnan stated.
He highlighted AI as a powerful driver of economic growth, not just for India but for all Global South nations, promising accelerated development if harnessed inclusively.
The summit signals India’s ambitious push to lead in ethical AI deployment, balancing innovation with equity to shape a prosperous future for every citizen.