Five-Day Global AI Event Begins with Strong Participation but Faces Day-One Operational Challenges
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit and Expo 2026 in New Delhi on February 16, marking the beginning of a five-day global technology event focused on Artificial Intelligence innovation and deployment. The summit has drawn significant attention, with organizers reporting over 2.5 lakh registrations and participation from more than 300 exhibitors representing 30 countries.
Showcasing India’s AI Ecosystem
The summit features dedicated pavilions highlighting the role of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, agriculture, governance, education, and industry. During his address, the Prime Minister emphasized India’s growing AI capabilities and its potential to deliver technology solutions for global benefit.
He cited innovations such as Sarvam AI’s vernacular language models and BharatGen’s 17-billion-parameter large language model designed to support 22 Indian languages. Officials described these projects as steps toward inclusive AI development tailored to India’s linguistic and socio-economic diversity.
Affordable AI Compute Announced
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) also announced subsidized AI computing access, stating that GPU compute resources would be made available at ₹765 per GPU hour to support startups, researchers, and developers. The move is aimed at strengthening India’s domestic AI ecosystem by lowering infrastructure costs.
Logistics Concerns Emerge on Day One
Despite the high-profile launch and strong participation numbers, several attendees reported operational issues during the first day of the summit. Complaints shared on social media and by participants included long queues at entry points, overcrowding in exhibition halls, limited WiFi access, and the absence of digital payment facilities such as UPI at certain counters.
A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur alleged that electronic equipment was stolen from his exhibition booth after security personnel temporarily cleared sections of the venue during the Prime Minister’s visit. Organizers have not issued an official response to these claims at the time of publication.
Security and Crowd Management
Reports indicated that approximately 20,000 police personnel were deployed for security arrangements during the inaugural day. However, some participants said crowd control measures were insufficient given the volume of visitors.
Industry representatives noted that the scale of registrations may have exceeded on-ground logistical preparedness, leading to bottlenecks in access and movement within the venue.
Global Participation Continues
The summit is scheduled to continue through February 20 and is expected to host several global leaders and policymakers, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Panel discussions, startup showcases, investor meets, and technical workshops are planned across multiple thematic tracks.
Balancing Vision and Execution
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 reflects the country’s ambition to position itself as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence. While the inaugural address focused on innovation, inclusivity, and technological sovereignty, the logistical challenges reported on the opening day have highlighted the importance of operational efficiency in managing events of this scale.
As the summit progresses, stakeholders will be watching both the policy announcements and the event management response to early concerns.
