Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited multiple exhibition pavilions at the India AI Impact Expo 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, where he interacted with startups, researchers and technology leaders showcasing artificial intelligence applications across sectors. The visit took place ahead of the formal inauguration of the Expo, which is being held from February 16 to 20 alongside the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

The event is being described as the first international AI summit hosted in the Global South, bringing together policy, innovation and implementation efforts on a single platform. The Expo spans more than 70,000 square metres across 10 thematic arenas and features participation from global technology companies, academic institutions, research organisations, Union Ministries, State Governments and international partners.

Thirteen country pavilions are highlighting international collaboration, with participation from nations including Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and several African countries. More than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations are being organised around three themes — People, Planet and Progress — showcasing AI use cases across industries.

The Expo has drawn participation from over 600 startups working on AI-driven solutions, many already deployed at scale. Organisers expect the event to attract more than 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates, while hosting over 500 sessions with more than 3,250 speakers and panellists.

Under the IndiaAI Mission, India is also unveiling 12 indigenous foundation models developed by domestic startups and research consortia, trained on Indian datasets and designed to support the country’s 22 official languages. The initiative reflects the government’s focus on building inclusive and locally relevant AI capabilities.

Officials said the summit aims to strengthen global partnerships, encourage innovation-led growth and position India as a key player in shaping the future of responsible and scalable artificial intelligence.