‘Sarvajana Hitaya’: PM Modi welcomes world leaders to India AI Impact Summit 2026
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that India has secured a leading position in the global artificial intelligence revolution, asserting that the nation’s technological advancements are defined by a balance of "ambition and responsibility."
The Prime Minister’s remarks come as he prepares to officially open the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre this evening. The five-day event, running through Feb. 20, is being held in tandem with the India AI Impact Summit, marking the first major global convening on artificial intelligence hosted in the Global South.
"Bringing the world together to discuss AI! Starting today, India hosts the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi," Modi shared in a post on X. "I warmly welcome world leaders, captains of industry, innovators, policymakers, researchers and tech enthusiasts from across the world for this Summit."
Human-Centric Innovation
The summit operates under the theme 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya', a Sanskrit phrase translating to "welfare for all, happiness for all." Modi emphasised that this guiding principle reflects a commitment to directing AI toward "human-centric progress" rather than mere automation.
The Prime Minister highlighted the transformative power of the technology across critical sectors:
- Public Services: Modernising governance and education.
- Essential Industries: Driving breakthroughs in healthcare and agriculture.
- Economic Growth: Empowering enterprises and the startup ecosystem.
"I am confident that the outcomes of the Summit will help shape a future that is progressive, innovative and opportunity-driven," Modi added.
The Global Hub for Data
The summit follows a landmark interview on Sunday in which the Prime Minister pitched India as the world’s preferred destination for digital infrastructure. He issued a bold invitation to international tech giants: "We invite the whole world's data to reside in India!"
Modi pointed to the 2026-27 Union Budget as a catalyst for this vision, noting that new tax incentives, including a potential tax holiday for global cloud providers, are designed to lower the costs of building advanced data facilities. These measures aim to position India as a "globally-competitive destination" that can host the massive computing power required for the next wave of AI.
"Thanks to the 1.4 billion people of India, our nation stands at the forefront of the AI transformation," the Prime Minister said. "From digital public infrastructure to a vibrant StartUp ecosystem and cutting-edge research, our strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility."
With inputs from PTI