The world is rallying behind India’s vision for ethical AI, with explosive participation in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 signaling its emergence as a premier innovation hub. This was the government’s upbeat message on Sunday, inspired by the ‘People, Planet, Progress’ framework.
Finalists for the summit’s cornerstone challenges—AI for All, AI by Her, and YouthAI—stand ready as the event unfolds February 16-20 in New Delhi. MeitY’s push for societal-good AI solutions has resonated globally, drawing entries attuned to universal challenges.
Numbers tell the story: over 4,650 applications from more than 60 countries, refined to 70 finalists via rigorous processes. These teams will compete in the spotlight of the February 16-17 grand finale at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.
AI for All led with 1,350+ submissions from 60+ nations, emphasizing practical AI for healthcare, farming, environmental protection, governance, schooling, and economic inclusion. Twenty elite teams showcase feats like AI infection scanners, precision agriculture soil testers, climate forecasting dashboards, virtual health consults, security shields, workflow accelerators, and intuitive teaching apps.
They prove AI’s power to equalize opportunities and supercharge public infrastructure in emerging economies.
Complementing this, AI by Her attracted 800+ applications from 50+ countries, spotlighting female-led ventures in diagnostics for oncology and ophthalmology, green development, lending equity, workforce enablement, crop enhancement, knowledge dissemination, and online trade. Innovations span AI clinical guides, voice-activated records, wellness trackers, financial AI evaluators, and eco-reporting automations.
India’s strategy underscores a pledge to gender-inclusive tech ecosystems. The summit’s international acclaim marks a pivotal chapter in India’s leadership of responsible AI on the world stage.