NEW DELHI
India moved a step closer toward building a responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystem as the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) organised a Regional Pre-Summit Event in Gandhinagar on Thursday. The gathering, held at Mahatma Mandir with support from the Gujarat Government and IIT Gandhinagar, is a major lead-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 15–20 in New Delhi.
The conference aims to bring together senior government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and technology experts to explore how AI can support India’s economic, social, and digital progress. A major focus is using AI to improve governance, public service delivery, and development in both cities and villages.
The event opened with an inauguration attended by several key dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Science & Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, and MeitY Additional Secretary and NIC Director General Abhishek Singh. Gujarat DST Secretary Ponugumatla Bharathi also joined the ceremony.
Centred on the theme “AI for Good Governance: Empowering India’s Digital Future,” the event features keynote talks from national and global experts representing MeitY, Bhashini, Google Cloud, Microsoft, IBM Research, NVIDIA, Oracle, and AWS. Topics include AI for governance, agriculture, rural development, healthcare, fintech, digital inclusion, and generative AI.
Another key highlight is multilingual AI, with platforms like Bhashini helping break language barriers across India. Participants can also explore an Experience Zone showcasing AI-powered tools for governance, healthcare, agriculture, and industry.
By gathering policymakers, technologists, and academics on one platform, the Gandhinagar Pre-Summit aims to help shape AI frameworks that are scalable, trustworthy, and focused on public interest.
