New Delhi has emerged as a global beacon for artificial intelligence collaboration, with the number of countries and organizations endorsing the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ on AI’s societal impact surging to 91. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology announced this milestone on Tuesday, highlighting the declaration’s growing influence just days after the AI Impact Summit 2026 wrapped up in the capital.
The summit, held last week, culminated in the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, a landmark document poised to shape international AI governance. Initially backed by 88 nations and international bodies as of February 21, 2026, the list expanded with the addition of Bangladesh, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, pushing the total to 91 signatories.
Inspired by the ancient Indian principle of ‘Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya’—universal welfare for all—this declaration underscores equitable access to AI benefits across humanity. It calls for bolstering international cooperation, respecting national sovereignty, and fostering accessible, trustworthy AI frameworks to drive economic growth and social good.
Key focus areas include AI’s transformative role in economies, the push for open-source and accessible AI ecosystems, the urgent need for energy-efficient infrastructure, and enhancing AI integration in science, governance, and public services. The document also emphasizes robust digital infrastructure and affordable connectivity as prerequisites for unlocking AI’s full potential.
Drawing from ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—the world is one family—the declaration advocates for affordable AI resources, enabling every nation to develop, adopt, and deploy AI for its citizens’ benefit. It stresses that advancing secure, reliable, and resilient AI systems is foundational to building trust and maximizing societal and economic gains.
This broad consensus signals a unified global approach to harnessing AI responsibly, positioning India at the forefront of ethical AI development. As more entities join, the declaration could redefine how the world navigates the AI revolution, ensuring no one is left behind in this technological era.