India is hosting what Union Minister Jitin Prasada described as the “Maha Kumbh” of artificial intelligence, as global leaders, startups, innovators, and researchers gather in the national capital for the five day AI Impact Summit.
Speaking on Monday, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology said the summit’s outcomes are being closely watched not only in India but across the world, highlighting the scale and significance of the event.
Global Convergence at AI Impact Summit
According to Prasada, the summit represents a historic moment as the world converges in India to deliberate on the future of artificial intelligence.“The world is converging, and it is truly historic. It is a significant achievement and a milestone for India that we are hosting this truly international impact summit with such participation, from state heads to tech leaders to industry,” he said.
The five day event, scheduled from February 16 to 20, is drawing ministers, senior officials, foreign representatives, members of international organizations, startups, innovators, and researchers.
It marks the fourth edition of the global AI Summit series, following previous summits hosted in the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France.
Participation from 100 Countries
The AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to see participation from about 100 countries. Among the anticipated attendees are global technology leaders such as Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, along with leaders from around 20 nations, including Brazil and France.The scale of international representation underscores India’s growing position in the global AI dialogue, with state heads, technology executives, industry leaders, and policymakers taking part in discussions over the next five days.
‘Maha Kumbh’ Analogy Highlights Scale
Drawing a cultural parallel, Prasada likened the AI Impact Summit to the Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj, calling it the “Maha Kumbh for AI” hosted by India.The Maha Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest and most sacred Hindu pilgrimage, organized once every 12 years in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. It attracts millions of devotees from across India and abroad. The last Maha Kumbh was held in 2025.
By invoking the Maha Kumbh analogy, the minister emphasized the magnitude of participation and the global significance of the AI Impact Summit, positioning it as a defining moment in India’s technology and innovation journey.
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