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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday toured multiple exhibition pavilions at the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in the Indian capital and interacted with startups, researchers and technology leaders showcasing artificial intelligence applications from various fields.
The visit came ahead of the official opening of the expo, which will be held from February 16 to 20 in parallel with the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The event marks the first international AI summit to be held in the Global South.
The summit is conceived as a national showcase of artificial intelligence in action and aims to bring together policy, innovation, and large-scale implementation on a single platform.
The expo will span 10 arenas spanning more than 70,000 square meters and will feature global technology companies, startups, academic and research institutions, federal ministries, state governments, and international partners.
The 13 country pavilions highlight international collaboration in the AI ecosystem, including participation from Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and several African countries.
More than 300 carefully selected exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations will be held across three thematic ‘chakras’ – People, Planet and Progress, highlighting the transformative potential of AI across sectors.
More than 600 promising startups are attending the Expo, many of which are already building population-scale AI solutions that are being deployed in real-world environments. The event is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, including international delegates, and aims to foster global partnerships and business opportunities within the AI ecosystem.
In addition, more than 500 sessions with more than 3,250 speakers and panelists are scheduled during the summit.
Under IndiaAI Mission, the government is releasing 12 indigenous-based models developed by Indian startups and consortiums. These models are trained on India’s extensive dataset and tuned for the country’s 22 official languages.
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India’s AI market is expected to exceed USD 17 billion by 2027, and this summit highlights the country’s ambition to shape an inclusive, responsible, and impactful AI future. With over 800 million internet users, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and a robust digital public infrastructure, India is positioning itself as a bridge between innovation and large-scale social impact.
