India AI Summit, based on three sutras and seven chakras, secured a declaration backed by 86 nations and two organisations, which aims to promote happiness and well-being for all. Protests related to the recent US trade deal were organised by the IYC, which faced backlash.
A global-level AI summit was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 14–20 February, hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The summit brought together a wide range of stakeholders from the Global South, including startups, technology companies, academic institutions, media organisations, businesses, and other leading industries. While the summit aimed to foster global partnerships with a major New Delhi Declaration signed and position India as an emerging force in the field of Artificial Intelligence, it was also marked by significant political debates and protests that questioned its overall success.
The four-day AI Summit, held in Delhi in the National Capital Region of India, aimed to recognise the role of Artificial Intelligence in serving humanity through a people-centric approach that promotes social development and inclusive growth. Guided by the three sutras: people, progress, and planet. The high-level meeting was a turning point in the development of the global conversation on artificial intelligence, building on the momentum of significant international forums like the UK AI Safety Summit, the AI Seoul Summit, the France AI Action Summit, and the Global AI Summit on Africa.
The three sutras aim to focus on the seven chakars that includes human capital, inclusion for social empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI , Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency , Science , Democratizing AI Resources , AI for Economic Growth and Social Good.
A New Delhi Declaration was adopted following the Summit, with participation from 86 nations and two international organisations. The declaration framed Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a global public good, rather than a resource confined to wealthy and developed countries. Representatives from the United States, China, and global leaders from the Netherlands, South Korea, and the European Union took part in the collaboration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of "Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya," promoting happiness and community well-being via a common idea of AI governance. The project sees AI as a tool that benefits people and helps create a sustainable environment for coming generations. The proclamation embodies values that are in line with the seven primary chakras, which stand for harmony, balance, and overall development.
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) organised protests at the venue, criticising the summit and the Centre’s policies. Four Youth Congress members were detained by the police during the protest. The congress has faced backlash by both the rulling party and other parties as well claiming it to be an attempt to defame the nation.
On Feburary 20, Indian Youth Congress activists reached the summit venue, removed their T-shirts and turned them inside out to reveal printed slogans and images, while raising chants against the Centre’s trade deal with the United States. The act was described by the central government as an attempt to defame India on a global platform. Reacting sharply, Kiren Rijiju remarked:
“They claim this is the anger of the youth. If the anger of the youth is used to defame India in front of the world, then nothing could be more shameful than this. There cannot be any politics over anything done in the national interest, no matter who is in power.”
According to the statements by ANI, one of the Delhi Court stated that national interest cannot be jeopardised in the name of protest, and that any conduct affecting security arrangements or the nation’s standing among foreign delegates has greater gravity.
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