India Summit A ‘Mahakumbh’ For Artificial Intelligence: Jitin Prasada
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada on Monday described the five-day AI Summit as a “Mahakumbh for artificial intelligence,” saying its scale and level of participation reflect a historic moment in India’s digital journey.
Addressing a key session titled ‘From AI User to Creator’ at the AI Impact Summit 2026, the minister called upon innovators and entrepreneurs to adopt artificial intelligence and develop solutions that can help India move towards self-reliance and global leadership in technology.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has progressed from being a user of artificial intelligence to becoming a creator of AI-driven solutions.
Prasada noted that technology and trade are emerging as the twin engines driving India’s economic expansion. He stressed that the technology sector is evolving at an unprecedented pace and cautioned that governments which fail to remain agile risk falling behind in the global race.
While stating that India is already the talent capital of the world, he warned that this advantage can narrow without continuous adaptation to emerging technologies.
The minister emphasised that artificial intelligence must go beyond academic discussions and become a practical capacity-building tool for India’s youth. He urged policymakers and industry leaders to focus on sector-specific and region-specific AI deployment, rather than limiting discussions only to large language models.
Prasada said countries of the Global South are now seeking tangible, life-impacting AI solutions instead of theoretical debates. He added that artificial intelligence must directly contribute to improving ease of doing business as well as ease of living for citizens.
“The objective is not to keep advanced technology in the hands of a few, but to democratise access across society,” he said.
Describing data as the fuel of the AI ecosystem, the minister said steps are being taken to ensure the availability of quality data so that technology can deliver meaningful transformation.
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 is expected to attract over 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates. The event aims to foster global partnerships and generate new business opportunities within the artificial intelligence ecosystem.
