The shirtless protest by young activists at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has sparked backlash from India’s academic elite. Prof. Inder Singh Thakur, from Himachal Pradesh Central University, told IANS on Tuesday that barging into a global forum of CEOs and leaders for such a stunt was ‘completely wrong.’ Democracy thrives on protest, he said, but ‘time, place, and manner matter—Jantar Mantar is for that.’
Lauding the summit’s scale, Prof. Diwan Singh Rawat of Kumaun University described it as a triumph of Indian innovation. With over 100 countries represented, it spotlighted AI’s role in accelerating drug discovery from nearly two decades to under six years. Rawat also celebrated India’s digital revolution—from highways to seamless transactions—fueled by a thriving startup culture under government patronage.
The Youth Congress-led disruption faced no mercy from Dr. Binay Kumar Singh, Director at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation. ‘Don’t politicize platforms meant for progress,’ he warned, insisting Rahul Gandhi must reprimand his workers publicly. Such antics, he argued, harm India’s stature abroad and distract from real achievements.
In the broader context, this incident highlights tensions between youthful activism and national interests. As AI reshapes economies, preserving decorum at international events is crucial for India’s rising global influence.