Policymakers at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 made a compelling case for sovereign AI on Tuesday, positioning it as India’s gateway to controlling AI’s lifecycle—from creation to execution.
This autonomy will unlock solutions for entrenched problems in health, schooling, farming, and finance. Imagine personalized services in Hindi, Tamil, or Bengali, making tech truly accessible.
Abhishek Singh from MeitY elaborated: sovereign AI enhances citizen services without isolation, directly boosting life standards.
Echoing this, BharatGen CEO Rishi Ball urged phased integration beginning with governance and finance. National infrastructures and models, he said, are vital for scalable, secure innovation.
The ‘Scaling Impact’ session spotlighted India’s shift to AI producer status globally. It called out deficiencies in research talent and investment, advocating sustained efforts for genuine capability.
Panelists pushed integrating AI R&D with priorities like agriculture and education, ensuring outcomes that are impactful and equitable.
With 20+ world leaders, dozens of ministers, and hundreds of experts in attendance, this five-day summit through February 20 is set to catalyze India’s AI sovereignty journey.