New Delhi, India — February 19, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today outlined India’s strategic roadmap for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, presenting the country’s ‘MANAV Vision’ and emphasising that AI must be democratised, ethical, inclusive and firmly under human control.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, is the first major global AI summit hosted by a Global South nation and brings together policymakers, tech leaders, innovators, and international delegates to shape the responsible evolution of AI.

MANAV Vision: A Human-Centric Framework

At the core of PM Modi’s address was the MANAV Vision — an acronym that defines how India intends to guide the development and application of AI:

Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must be grounded in ethical principles.

Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight are essential.

National Sovereignty: Data rights must reside with individuals and nations.

Accessible and Inclusive: AI should enable empowerment, not create monopolies.

Valid and Legitimate: AI systems must be lawful, verifiable and trustworthy.

PM Modi said the vision positions AI as a tool to empower humanity and ensure welfare and happiness for all, especially populations in the Global South. He stressed that while AI should be given an open sky to grow, the reins must remain firmly in human hands.

India’s Role in Ethical AI Leadership

Addressing the summit, the prime minister highlighted that India is not just participating in the global AI revolution but leading and shaping it, urging that AI must be made a medium for inclusion and empowerment.

In his remarks, Modi underscored the rapid transition from machine learning to real-time learning systems and noted the critical role of ethical oversight in ensuring technology serves humanity rather than reduces humans to data points.

Global and Domestic Context

The India AI Impact Summit is drawing global attention, with leaders and corporate chiefs discussing regulation, investment and collaborative frameworks for AI deployment. Importantly, the summit also serves as a platform to advance multinational cooperation on responsible use of AI in sectors such as healthcare, education, and governance.

As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, India’s vision seeks to balance innovation with safeguards, prioritising ethical standards, data rights and broad accessibility.