Pressmediaofindia
Related Articles
18-02-2026
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: India’s AI Impact Summit, an event meant to showcase the country’s technology ambitions, faced a wave of online criticism on its opening day on Monday as attendees reported long queues, overcrowding and organizational lapses at the New Delhi venue.
Several delegates told media; unclear instructions had left many scrambling to reclaim possessions after the exhibition building was suddenly cleared ahead of security sweeps for high-level arrivals. Some speakers due on Tuesday panels were still awaiting confirmation of sessions and agendas.
Attendees said poor signage and limited seating added to confusion at the summit, where about 250,000 people are expected, and some sessions could not accommodate all those seeking entry.
India’s IT ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Developing nations positioning for AI boom
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, the disarray at an event of international stature risks more than just poor optics, the organizational lapses threatened to overshadow the government’s messaging on India’s technological prowess.
Indian officials are positioning the summit, which runs until February 20, as a platform to amplify the voices of developing nations in global AI governance. Delhi marks the first time the global event is being held in the developing world.
Some journalists covering the summit spent much of Monday seeking clarity on entry procedures, with confusion over separate digital QR codes and physical passes for access, according to messages in a WhatsApp group for the event.
A number of reporters said physical passes promised for collection weren’t ready, while others complained of a lack of seating to file stories and run interviews from.
Many attendees took to social media on Monday to complain about the event’s organization.
“Gates are closed so could not access my own booth at the AI Summit. If you’re also stuck outside and wanted to visit the Bola team, dm me,” Maitreya Wagh, co-founder of AI voice startup Bolna, wrote on social media.
“We may set up a mini-booth at some Connaught Place cafe,” he added, referring to the business district near the summit venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with startups, researchers, and technology leaders as he inaugurated India AI Impact Expo at the Bharat Mandapam, media reported.
PM Modi explored multiple exhibition pavilions, marking the launch of the event which runs from February 16 to 20 alongside the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
India has taken to become sovereign in its AI development
Marine Collins Ragnet, AI Lead and Senior Researcher at NYU’s Peace Research and Education Program (PREP), said it was “incredible to see the approach that India has taken to become kind of sovereign in its AI development.”
“I was saying it on the panel, think it’s incredible that this is the first panel that’s hosted in the global south,” Ragnet told media. The researcher further said that India sits at an “interesting position” between “the global south and the global north.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo.
The India AI Impact Summit along with an expo is organized at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam and will continue till February 20. According to an advisory, the summit will be open to general public from February 17 after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening.
