The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, organised the Governance Summit 2026: Inclusive AI for Viksit Bharat at the ISB campus in Mohali on May 23, 2026. The summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives to deliberate on the role of artificial intelligence in driving inclusive development and strengthening governance in India.
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, S. Krishnan highlighted the government’s commitment to building an AI ecosystem that benefits every citizen, especially those at the margins of the digital economy. He stated that artificial intelligence offers India a transformative opportunity to enhance productivity, improve governance, and widen access to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and financial inclusion.
Krishnan also acknowledged concerns regarding AI’s impact on cognitive and white-collar jobs but noted that India is uniquely positioned to leverage the technology for broad-based and inclusive growth. He emphasised that the country’s demographic advantage, digital infrastructure, and innovation ecosystem can help ensure AI becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
The day-long summit featured four thematic panel discussions focusing on AI’s application in digital commerce, online safety for women and children, healthcare accessibility and affordability, and employment generation through digital entrepreneurship. A separate roundtable discussion explored strategies for operationalising AI-driven public service delivery from state administrations down to gram panchayat levels.
In his opening remarks, Ashwini Chhatre stressed the importance of translating AI ambitions into practical governance frameworks. He described AI as a long-term national mission that would shape the future of coming generations and identified inequality, technological leapfrogging, and the future of jobs as critical aspects of the evolving AI landscape.
Chhatre further underlined the need for equitable access to AI opportunities through safeguards, social security mechanisms, and affirmative action measures to ensure that technological progress remains inclusive and socially balanced.
The summit witnessed participation from leading organisations and institutions including Reliance Retail, Mastercard, Apollo Hospitals, IIT Madras, UNICEF India, and the Punjab Police, along with representatives from several central and state government ministries.
The discussions at the summit reflected India’s growing focus on using artificial intelligence as a catalyst for inclusive governance, economic growth, and improved public service delivery under the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
