February 19, New Delhi – Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that India had successfully achieved a Guinness World Record for "the most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours," with a staggering 250,946 valid pledges recorded during the 24-hour period from February 16–17.
The announcement was made during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The nationwide AI Responsibility Pledge campaign, launched on February 16 in collaboration with Intel India under the IndiaAI Mission, aimed to mobilize citizens across the country to commit to the ethical, inclusive, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence through the dedicated portal aipledge.indiaai.gov.in. The initiative encouraged participants to reflect on key principles such as data privacy, accountability, transparency, and combating misinformation through scenario-based questions, reinforcing India’s vision of building a trustworthy and human-centric AI ecosystem. Participants who completed the pledge received a digital badge and access to AI learning pathways.
Addressing the media, Ashwini Vaishnaw praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of engaging youth in the responsible and ethical use of AI. He said it was the Prime Minister’s vision that inspired outreach to colleges, faculty, and students to encourage them to take the pledge to use AI as a tool for societal good and ensure it is used responsibly. He also applauded the more than 250,000 students who participated, calling it a proud day for the country and a step toward a future where AI is embraced with responsibility.
The Minister highlighted that the record-setting participation – far exceeding the initial target of 5,000 pledges – reflects strong public engagement and growing awareness around responsible AI adoption. He said the campaign marks a significant milestone in citizen-led digital responsibility and demonstrates India’s commitment to shaping the global AI discourse with a focus on inclusion, ethics, and public trust.
