India AI Summit 2026 LIVE: AI adoption requires commitment, won't 'just happen by drift', says CEA Nageswaran

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has extended its ‘UPI One World’ wallet service to international delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026. This pilot initiative is available to visitors from over 40 countries participating in the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 16-20 February.

The service allows inbound foreign travellers to perform real-time Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions across India without requiring a local bank account or an Indian mobile number.

Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran on Monday (February 16, 2026) said AI adoption cannot just happen by drift and requires a clear commitment to aligning technological adoption with mass employability.

In a virtual address to the AI Impact Summit 2026, Mr. Nageswaran said countries need to move decisively by strengthening foundation or education, high quality skills, expanding labour-intensive service sectors, and removing the regulatory bottlenecks.

Adopting AI requires a collaborative approach, he said, adding that it has to be a ‘Team India’ effort, including the private sector and academics, as well as policymakers.

“The window is open still, but it is not indefinite. We must act and act now,” he said, adding that there is a need for urgency to adopt AI.

- PTI

“India stands at the forefront of efforts to shape a people-first, democratic AI future. This is reflected in the Summit’s theme, ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ as well,” Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said as the India AI-Impact Summit got under way on February 16, 2026. 

India has the highest level of artificial intelligence (AI) skill penetration and has adopted a policy approach of avoiding over-regulation to ensure innovation thrives, Union Minister Jitin Prasada said on Monday (February 16, 2026).

Speaking at a session in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology said the present government is agile and listens to all ideas.

“We have maximum AI skill penetration, we have gone ahead with the policy of ensuring not to over-regulate so that innovation thrives,” Mr. Prasada said, adding, “We are ensuring that GPU access has been available as far as possible at the cheapest cost”.

- PTI

The U.K.’s focus during the AI Impact Summit set to start in New Delhi on Monday (February 16, 2026) will be on championing how artificial intelligence can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and deliver benefits for people around the globe, the British government has said.

The U.K. delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, is keen to highlight how AI can improve everyday life in every corner of the world.

“This summit is an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI, while baking in robust and fair safety standards that protect us all,” said Mr. Lammy, in a pre-summit statement.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (February 16, 2026) said India stands at the forefront of the artificial intelligence transformation and its strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Bringing the world together to discuss AI! Starting today, India hosts the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. I warmly welcome world leaders, captains of industry, innovators, policymakers, researchers and tech enthusiasts from across the world for this Summit.”

The theme of the summit is “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” or welfare for all, happiness for all, reflecting our shared commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence for human-centric progress, he said.

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Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday issued an advisory for commuters ahead of the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026, which begins on Monday (February 16, 2026), and the CBSE Class 10 and 12 examinations, which commence on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).

The advisory stated that traffic movement will be restricted on Bhairon Marg, excluding the Ring Road T-Point and Mathura Road, and on several other central Delhi stretches, including Subramania Bharti Marg, Rajesh Pilot Marg, Tees January Marg, Akbar Road, and adjoining roads.

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According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the AI Impact event will feature more than 3,000 speakers over 500 sessions and host more than 300 exhibitions and live demonstrations of AI technology and startups, which are “structured across three thematic chakras — People, Planet and Progress”. 

The government hopes to attract more than 2.5 lakh visitors to the event, the statement said.

- The Hindu Bureau

The event kicks off on Monday (February 16, 2026) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the “India AI Impact Expo 2026”, including pavilions from 13 other countries.

The event is being hosted from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam complex in Delhi where the G-20 Summit was hosted first in 2023. It marks the 4th AI Summit after Summits in the U.K., South Korea and France. Officials said it would be showcased as the first time the Summit on the transformative effect and challenges from AI is hosted in a Global South country.

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