MeitY and ISB Host Governance Summit 2026 in Mohali, Focus on Inclusive AI for Viksit Bharat

Mohali, May 25, 2026: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, convened the Governance Summit 2026: Inclusive AI for Viksit Bharat at the ISB campus in Mohali, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence in India’s development journey.

The one-day summit focused on leveraging AI-powered innovations to enhance governance, improve public service delivery, strengthen digital commerce, expand healthcare access, and promote online safety, particularly for women and children.

Delivering the inaugural keynote address, S. Krishnan highlighted the government’s commitment to creating an inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystem that benefits all sections of society, including those at the margins of the digital economy.

He noted that artificial intelligence presents India with a significant opportunity to improve productivity, strengthen governance mechanisms, and expand access across critical sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and financial inclusion. He also emphasized that while concerns regarding AI’s impact on traditional employment remain valid, India is well-positioned to harness the technology as a catalyst for inclusive growth and innovation.

The summit featured four thematic panel discussions examining AI’s role in digital commerce, online safety, affordable healthcare, job creation, and digital entrepreneurship. In addition, a dedicated roundtable session explored strategies for deploying AI-driven solutions to strengthen last-mile governance and public service delivery, extending from state administrations to gram panchayats.

Speaking at the event, Ashwini Chhatre underscored the importance of converting AI ambitions into practical governance frameworks. He stressed that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a long-term national mission capable of shaping the future of the next generation.

He identified inequality, technological leapfrogging, and the future of employment as key issues that policymakers must address while ensuring that AI opportunities remain accessible through safeguards, social protection measures, and inclusive policy interventions.

The summit witnessed participation from representatives of leading organizations, including Reliance Retail, Mastercard, Apollo Hospitals, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, UNICEF India, and the Punjab Police, alongside officials from various central and state government departments.

The discussions highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in addressing governance challenges while ensuring that technological advancements contribute to equitable development and support India’s vision of becoming a developed nation under the Viksit Bharat framework.

The Governance Summit 2026 concluded with a shared emphasis on building responsible, inclusive, and citizen-centric AI systems that can strengthen public institutions and create meaningful socio-economic opportunities across the country.