AI Summit 2026: India Unveils Seven Chakras to Shape Global AI Governance

Ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, India has outlined a structured framework of seven ‘chakras’ to guide global conversations on the development, deployment, and governance of artificial intelligence. These chakras function as thematic working groups, translating high-level principles into policy-ready frameworks and real-world action.

The Summit will take place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20 and marks a milestone as the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South, reinforcing India’s expanding influence in shaping international technology governance.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026: A Global Platform

The upcoming summit has drawn strong international participation, highlighting its growing geopolitical and technological relevance. Around 15–20 heads of government, more than 50 international ministers, and over 40 Indian and global CEOs are expected to attend.

The event aims to move beyond abstract AI ethics debates and focus on actionable frameworks that balance innovation, inclusion, and responsibility.

How the Seven Chakras Shape the Summit’s Agenda

Turning Principles Into Policy and Practice

The Summit’s discussions are organised around seven interconnected chakras, each addressing a critical domain where AI can drive social, economic, and scientific transformation. These chakras operationalise the Summit’s guiding principles, referred to as ‘sutras’, and anchor them in policy design, innovation ecosystems, and deployment strategies.

Chakra 1: Human Capital

This chakra focuses on preparing societies for an AI-driven future of work. It emphasises fair skilling, inclusive workforce transitions, and equal access to opportunities created by AI, ensuring that technological progress does not widen labour or income gaps.

Chakra 2: Inclusion for Social Empowerment

The second chakra centres on inclusive-by-design AI systems. Its goal is to empower diverse and under-represented communities, promote equitable participation, and ensure fair representation across societies in AI development and deployment.

Chakra 3: Safe and Trusted AI

This chakra addresses the growing global demand for trustworthy AI systems. It focuses on transparency, accountability, and shared safeguards to support responsible innovation, aiming to build AI systems that can be trusted across borders and sectors.

Chakra 4: Science

Under this theme, discussions explore how AI can accelerate scientific discovery. The focus is on strengthening global scientific collaboration, improving research productivity, and translating breakthroughs into shared global progress.

Chakra 5: Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency

This chakra highlights the need for sustainable AI systems, including energy-efficient technologies, responsible resource usage, and AI-driven solutions that enhance climate resilience and long-term system efficiency.

Chakra 6: Democratising AI Resources

The sixth chakra promotes fair and equitable access to foundational AI tools, datasets, and infrastructure. The aim is to support inclusive innovation, reduce entry barriers, and enable sustainable development across regions and income groups.

Chakra 7: AI for Economic Development and Social Good

The final chakra focuses on deploying AI to boost productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth. It examines how AI can drive economic development, strengthen public services, and deliver measurable social impact.

India’s Broader Goal: Shaping Global AI Standards

Through the seven-chakra framework, India seeks to influence global AI norms while simultaneously addressing domestic priorities, including skilling, inclusion, sustainability, and economic growth. The outcomes of the Summit are expected to inform policymakers, investors, and industry leaders in the years ahead.

The Three Sutras Guiding the AI Impact Vision

The Summit is anchored in three core principles, known as ‘sutras’, which frame global cooperation on AI:

‘People’

This sutra focuses on human-centric AI that protects rights, builds trust, improves access to services, and ensures AI’s benefits reach all sections of society.

‘Planet’

The ‘Planet’ principle promotes environmentally sustainable AI, emphasising energy efficiency, responsible resource use, and AI applications that support climate action.

‘Progress’

‘Progress’ centres on inclusive economic and technological growth, encouraging innovation, capacity building, and the use of AI to drive development outcomes.

Why the AI Summit 2026 Matters

By hosting the world’s first global AI summit in the Global South, India is positioning itself as a key bridge between advanced AI economies and emerging markets. The seven-chakra framework reflects a distinctly India-first yet globally relevant approach—one that seeks balance between innovation, responsibility, and inclusive growth.