NE SCIENCE & TECH BUREAU
MOHALI, MAY 25
India’s race to become a global artificial intelligence powerhouse gathered fresh momentum as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology joined hands with the Indian School of Business to host the high-profile Governance Summit 2026: Inclusive AI for Viksit Bharat at the ISB Mohali campus.
The one-day summit emerged as a major convergence point for policymakers, technology leaders, healthcare experts, academics and civil society representatives, all focused on one central question — how can artificial intelligence be harnessed to drive inclusive growth and strengthen governance in India?
Held in collaboration with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, the fourth edition of the summit showcased India’s growing confidence in using AI as a transformative engine for economic development, digital governance and public service delivery.
- MeitY and ISB convene Governance Summit 2026 to accelerate India’s inclusive AI mission
- AI applications in healthcare, digital commerce, online safety and governance dominate discussions
- Government says AI can transform productivity, financial inclusion and public service delivery
- Industry leaders from Reliance Retail, Mastercard, Apollo Hospitals and IIT Madras participate
- Experts stress need for equitable AI access, safeguards and future-ready policy frameworks
AI at the Heart of India’s Development Vision
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, highlighted the government’s vision of building an AI ecosystem that reaches every citizen, including those traditionally left behind in the digital economy.
“Artificial intelligence presents India with a transformative opportunity to enhance productivity, improve governance, and expand access across sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and financial inclusion,” he said.
He acknowledged concerns surrounding AI’s impact on jobs but asserted that India remains uniquely positioned to leverage the technology for inclusive and large-scale growth.
The summit reflected the Centre’s broader “Viksit Bharat” vision, where emerging technologies are expected to play a critical role in shaping India’s future economy and governance architecture.
AI Solutions for Commerce, Healthcare and Safety
The day-long programme featured intensive discussions on AI-driven innovation across multiple sectors.
Four major thematic panels explored:
- AI’s role in digital commerce
- Online safety for women and children
- Affordable and accessible healthcare
- Job creation and digital entrepreneurship
A dedicated roundtable also examined how AI tools can be operationalised for last-mile public service delivery — from central ministries to state governments and even gram panchayats.
Experts noted that India’s scale, digital public infrastructure and rising startup ecosystem provide fertile ground for AI-led governance innovation.
Industry and Academia Join Hands
The summit saw participation from leading organisations including Reliance Retail, Mastercard, Apollo Hospitals, IIT Madras, UNICEF India and the Punjab Police, alongside officials from various central and state government departments.
The broad participation highlighted how AI is increasingly becoming a cross-sector priority spanning business, governance, healthcare, public safety and education.
‘AI Must Become a National Mission’
In his opening address, Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, called for converting India’s AI ambitions into actionable governance frameworks capable of addressing inequality and future workforce challenges.
“AI must be viewed as a long-term national mission shaping the future of the next generation,” he said.
He identified inequality, leapfrogging opportunities and the future of jobs as defining dimensions of the emerging AI landscape and stressed the importance of safeguards, social security mechanisms and affirmative action to ensure equitable access to AI opportunities.
As India positions itself among the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, the Governance Summit 2026 underlined one clear message — the future of governance, commerce and public services in India will increasingly be powered by artificial intelligence.
