Regional AI dialogues to shape India AI Impact Summit 2026 agenda
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As India accelerates its push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, the groundwork for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has been strengthened through seven regional AI conferences held across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala.
Convened under the India AI mission in partnership with state governments, academic leaders and central ministries, these conferences sought to bridge regional AI priorities with the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
The collective recommendations from these engagements are expected to directly influence the deliberations and outcomes of the summit, which will take place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, 2026.
Held between October 2025 and January 2026, the conferences focused on region-specific challenges while staying aligned with India’s larger goal of using artificial intelligence to improve governance, economic outcomes and public service delivery. Sessions covered practical AI use cases in healthcare, agriculture, education, skilling, language technologies, innovation and digital infrastructure.
January 2026
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Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government’s vision is to ensure AI reaches everyone. “The Prime Minister has a clear mission to democratize technology so that intelligence powered by AI reaches every individual, every household, and every enterprise, rather than remaining confined to a select few,” he said.
He added that a programme has been launched to train one million young people in AI skills so that India’s youth are ready for the new technology era.
Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said the Centre has committed ₹10,000 crore under the India AI Mission. “The objective is to enhance citizens’ incomes, improve ease of living, and boost the overall productivity of the nation through responsible and inclusive use of AI,” he said.
State leaders highlighted how AI is already making a difference at the local level. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Every pregnant woman in Meghalaya is digitally tracked, enabling early identification of high-risk cases and timely interventions,” adding that this has helped reduce maternal mortality by 50 percent.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said, “Regional AI Conferences are crucial platforms to ensure that AI-driven development reaches every district and every language.” Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said AI can make public services “faster, more transparent and more citizen-centric”.
The conferences also saw several announcements, including a national AI skilling programme, expansion of India AI Data and AI Labs across states, new AI policies in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and the launch of the Uttar Pradesh AI Mission. Multiple MoUs were signed between the India AI Mission, state governments, academic institutions and industry to strengthen AI research, skilling and innovation.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that in a large state, “addressing challenges at scale requires a timely, technology-driven and responsive model,” and that AI will play a key role. Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer said, “Artificial Intelligence is no longer a technology of the future. The real challenge is not whether we adopt AI, but how we adopt it.”
Officials said the regional approach ensures India’s AI strategy is shaped by on-ground needs, with state-level insights feeding directly into the India AI Impact Summit 2026.