Relevance: GS III (Science & Tech – AI & Indigenization) | Source: PIB

1. The Context: A Global First

India is hosting the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi (Feb 16-20).

• Significance: It is the first major global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
• Vision: Unlike Western summits focused on “existential risks,” this summit focuses on “Developmental AI”—using AI to solve real-world problems like hunger, health, and education.
• Motto: “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” (Welfare for All, Happiness of All).

2. The Framework: “Seven Chakras” of AI

The summit is anchored in Seven Themes (Chakras) designed to align AI with human progress:

1. Human Capital (Skilling): Preparing the workforce for the AI age.
   • Initiative: IndiaAI FutureSkills supports PhD scholars and Tier-2/3 city students to prevent a digital divide.
2. Inclusion (Social Empowerment): Making AI accessible to non-English speakers.
   • Key Tool: BHASHINI, a platform breaking language barriers by offering translation in 22 Indian languages (voice & text).
3. Safe & Trusted AI: Ensuring AI is transparent and unbiased.
   • Body: IndiaAI Safety Institute (AISI) is being set up to draft safety standards and testing protocols.
4. Science & Discovery: Using AI for high-end research.
   • Example: MausamGPT (for weather forecasting) and ANRF funding for deep-tech research.
5. Resilience & Innovation: Building sustainable, energy-efficient AI systems.
6. Democratizing Resources (Infrastructure): Giving startups access to expensive hardware.
   • Initiative: IndiaAI Compute Portal provides “Compute-as-a-Service” (renting GPUs at <₹100/hour) so small startups can train large models.
7. AI for Development: Applying AI in critical sectors.
   • Impact: AI advisory tools in Agriculture have reportedly increased yields by 30-50% in states like Andhra Pradesh.

3. Key Concept: Sovereign AI

The summit emphasizes “Sovereign AI”—the idea that India must build its own AI capabilities (Data, Models, and Compute Infrastructure) rather than relying on foreign tech giants. This ensures Strategic Autonomy.

UPSC Value Box

Q. With reference to the “IndiaAI Mission” and its components, consider the following statements:

1. “BHASHINI” is a government initiative focused on developing indigenous quantum computing capabilities.
2. “AIRAWAT” is an AI supercomputer installed at C-DAC, Pune.
3. The “IndiaAI Compute Portal” aims to provide startups with access to Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) at subsidized rates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)