Nepal, March 2 -- When the India AI Impact Summit 2026 convened policymakers, technologists, startups, multilateral agencies and global CEOs in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, it was more than a technology conference. It was, in effect, a geopolitical statement, accentuated by the presence of around twenty heads of states, top executives from leading AI companies and delegates representing nearly eighty countries. India was certainly showcasing its innovative prowess. More significantly, it was positioning itself as a prospective norm-maker in the emerging global architecture of artificial intelligence.

Framed around a human-centric philosophy, reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on inclusive and accountable AI, the su...