NDTV to Host IND.AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Spotlighting AI Governance, Investment and Sovereignty

New Delhi will serve as the venue for the first edition of the NDTV IND.AI Summit on February 18, 2026, bringing together policymakers, global technology leaders, investors and academics to examine Artificial Intelligence’s expanding role in India’s development trajectory.

Organised by NDTV in collaboration with the Startup Policy Forum, the conference aims to position AI at the heart of discussions spanning governance, enterprise transformation and public systems.

Framing AI Within India’s Policy and Growth Agenda

The summit is designed to address a central policy challenge: how to regulate and deploy AI in ways that drive economic expansion while maintaining accountability, transparency and public confidence.

As governments worldwide recalibrate strategies around AI regulation and innovation, India is evaluating how the technology can advance productivity, inclusion and competitiveness. The forum will examine how AI intersects with national priorities, from administrative efficiency to industrial growth and social equity.

Rahul Kanwal, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV, said the gathering seeks to convene credible voices to shape how India approaches AI in the years ahead, emphasising the country’s capacity to influence global technology conversations.

Global Perspectives on Governance and Safety

A key session will feature former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is expected to offer insights into how AI is influencing public administration and economic policymaking across advanced economies.

The event will also host senior international figures engaged in AI research, safety and corporate leadership, including Chris Lehane of OpenAI, Stuart Russell of the University of California, Berkeley, and James Manyika of Google. Their participation is set to anchor discussions around risk management, cross-border cooperation and responsible innovation.

Together, these conversations aim to situate India within the broader international debate on AI oversight and long-term safeguards.

Capital, Innovation and AI-Driven Value Creation

Beyond regulatory themes, the summit will explore the investment landscape surrounding AI. Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst is among the prominent venture leaders scheduled to discuss how funding models and value creation strategies are evolving in an AI-centric economy.

Panels will assess how organisations are integrating AI into operational systems, workforce models and productivity frameworks. Particular attention will be given to India’s digital public infrastructure and its potential to act as a scalable model for trusted technology deployment.

Examining AI Sovereignty and National Autonomy

Another core theme of the conference will be AI sovereignty — the question of how nations maintain strategic autonomy while operating within interconnected global technology ecosystems.

Deliberations are expected to consider the interplay between government policy, private sector innovation, academic research and open-source communities in shaping AI’s trajectory.

India’s Expanding Role in the Global AI Conversation

The IND.AI Summit reflects India’s increasing confidence in articulating its own approach to emerging technologies. By convening domestic and international stakeholders, the platform seeks to connect innovation with public purpose and align global engagement with national priorities.

As AI continues to influence economic structures, labour markets and governance models, the New Delhi gathering is poised to contribute to defining how the technology is embedded within India’s long-term development strategy.