New Delhi, February 17 – Bolivia's Vice President, Captain Edman Lara, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to attend the AI Impact Summit. Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, welcomed him at the airport.
In a post on X, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, stated, "Vice President Captain Edman Lara of Bolivia was warmly welcomed by Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, upon his arrival in New Delhi to attend the India AI Impact Summit. This marks a new beginning for digital partnership in the friendly ties between India and Bolivia."
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, which commenced on Monday, brought together heads of state and government, ministers, global technology leaders, eminent researchers, multilateral institutions, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in promoting inclusive growth, strengthening public systems, and enabling sustainable development, marking the first time that a global convening of this scale on the issue is being organized in the Global South.
The five-day summit, which ends on February 20, will feature the participation of over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 heads of state, 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers, along with over 500 global AI leaders, comprising CEOs, founders, academics, researchers, CTOs, and philanthropic organizations.
On February 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address, setting the tone for global cooperation and India's vision for inclusive and responsible AI.
A major highlight of the summit, the three flagship Global Impact Challenges – AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi – will culminate in the announcement of their finalists and the Grand Finale showcase. Designed to advance inclusive, responsible, and development-oriented artificial intelligence, these challenges were launched to accelerate scalable, high-impact AI solutions aligned with national priorities and global development objectives. Together, they attracted over 4,650 applications from more than 60 countries, reflecting strong international participation and reinforcing India's emergence as a credible global hub for responsible and scalable AI innovation.
Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation led by domain experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, the top 70 teams across the three categories have been selected as finalists. The finalists will engage with policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and academia, while gaining recognition and ecosystem support to scale their innovations nationally and globally.
The Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact, being organized in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad on February 18, serves as the principal academic platform of the Summit. The Symposium has received around 250 research submissions from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and will be attended by Estonia's President, Alar Karis, and Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw.
It brings together globally renowned AI pioneers and leading research institutions to deliberate on AI-driven scientific discovery, safety, and governance frameworks, equitable access to computing infrastructure, and research collaboration across the Global South.
