Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of India’s development journey, transforming governance, public service delivery, and citizen engagement. Just as electricity, computers, the internet, and mobile technology revolutionized daily life in their respective eras, AI is now enabling solutions that reach citizens at scale. Recognizing this transformative potential, India is pursuing a strategy of democratisation of AI, making advanced AI tools, resources, and skills accessible to all, while aligning with the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from 16–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, will be the first global AI summit hosted by a country in the Global South. It will bring together policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, and global experts to discuss the inclusive and sustainable potential of AI, highlighting India’s approach as a model for equitable access and societal impact.
What Is AI Democratisation?
Democratisation of AI means making artificial intelligence affordable, accessible, and usable for a broad spectrum of users—from startups and researchers to public institutions and individual innovators. It goes beyond providing finished applications, focusing on access to core AI building blocks: computing power, datasets, and reusable AI models. By scaling these resources, India is enabling widespread innovation and creating equal opportunities for participation in the AI-driven digital economy.
AI democratisation also has a social and economic dimension. India’s AI ecosystem already employs over six million people, and initiatives aim to empower the country’s 490 million informal workers by expanding access to markets, services, and financial systems. Building on India’s digital philosophy, where UPI and Aadhaar revolutionized payments and identity, AI is now following a similar path of openness, affordability, and inclusivity.
AI for Public Impact
India’s approach emphasizes practical AI applications that deliver measurable benefits to citizens. Across sectors, AI is making a tangible difference:
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Agriculture: AI predicts weather patterns, identifies pest risks, guides sowing and irrigation decisions, and simplifies access to government schemes through platforms like Kisan e Mitra.
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Healthcare: AI assists in early disease detection, medical imaging analysis, telemedicine, and rural healthcare connectivity.
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Disaster Management: AI tools forecast rainfall, cyclones, fog, and extreme weather events, strengthening preparedness.
Language inclusion is another key focus. Platforms like AIBhashini provide AI-powered translation and speech services in over 36 Indian languages, allowing citizens to access digital services without language barriers.
As of early 2026, India ranks among the top three startup ecosystems globally, with nearly 90% of startups leveraging AI in some form, demonstrating the technology’s deep integration into the country’s innovation landscape.
Democratising AI Infrastructure
To make AI truly accessible, India is building robust infrastructure across multiple layers:
1. Access to Datasets and Models
India’s AIKosh platform hosts over 7,500 datasets and 273 AI models across 20 sectors, enabling developers and researchers to innovate without starting from scratch. Local large AI models trained on Indian data and languages are also being developed, promoting technological self-reliance and relevance.
2. Access to Computing Power
India has onboarded 38,000 high-end GPUs and 1,050 TPUs, available at subsidized rates of ₹65/hour—significantly lower than global averages. Supercomputing resources like PARAM Siddhi-AI and AIRAWAT support shared AI applications including language processing, weather prediction, and drug discovery.
3. Semiconductor Capabilities
To ensure long-term AI scalability, India is investing heavily in domestic chip production through the India Semiconductor Mission (₹76,000 crore) and its 2026–27 expansion. These initiatives will support manufacturing, design, and talent development, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
4. Connectivity and Data Centres
5G coverage now spans 99.9% of districts, powering AI applications nationwide. India’s data centre ecosystem, currently at 1,280 MW, is projected to grow 4–5 times by 2030, supporting both public and private sector AI adoption.
5. Energy Access
AI infrastructure is energy-intensive. India is expanding renewable energy capacity (253.96 GW as of 2025) and nuclear power (projected to reach 22.38 GW by 2032), ensuring stable, sustainable power for AI systems.
Policy, Governance, and Education
India’s AI democratization also relies on strong regulatory frameworks and human capacity building:
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Data Governance: Policies like the Government Open Data License and Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 enable safe, responsible use of data.
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Cloud Infrastructure: The MeghRaj cloud provides scalable, secure, pay-per-use services to government agencies.
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Education and Skilling: Initiatives like SOAR, YUVAi, and Centres of Excellence equip students, educators, and public officials with AI skills. Over 500 PhD scholars, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 undergraduates are receiving support under the IndiaAI Mission.
These measures ensure that both technology and human talent are aligned for inclusive AI adoption.
Global Cooperation
AI democratization is not only a national challenge but a global one, particularly for countries in the Global South. The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 will feature a Democratizing AI Resources Working Group, co-chaired by India, Egypt, and Kenya, promoting:
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Global access to AI as a public good
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International collaboration on distributed AI infrastructure
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Knowledge sharing and capacity building for local AI ecosystems
This initiative envisions a more equitable and balanced global AI landscape, where nations can leverage AI to drive inclusive growth.
Conclusion
India’s AI democratization strategy demonstrates that scale, inclusion, and innovation can progress together. By prioritizing affordability, openness, and trust, AI is being positioned as a tool that empowers farmers, students, researchers, startups, and public institutions alike. The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 will showcase how this approach, rooted in the priorities of the Global South, can serve as a global model for equitable and sustainable AI development.
As India continues to expand access to compute, data, infrastructure, skills, and policy support, it is shaping a future where AI strengthens society, reduces inequalities, and contributes to sustainable development for all.