In a significant push to shape the nation's technological trajectory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a crucial meeting with twelve of India's most promising artificial intelligence startups in New Delhi on Thursday. The interaction, held ahead of the upcoming India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, focused on positioning India as a global leader in responsible and inclusive AI innovation.
A Vision for Indian AI: Ethical, Inclusive, and Global
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi articulated a clear and compelling vision for the country's AI development. He called for the promotion of affordable and inclusive artificial intelligence, underpinned by the principle of frugal innovation. The PM suggested that India should present a unique AI model to the world, one that embodies the spirit of 'Made in India, Made for the World'.
An official statement released after the meeting highlighted the Prime Minister's emphasis on ethics and trust. "PM said that the world's trust in India is the country's biggest strength. He emphasised the need to ensure that Indian AI models are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and based on data privacy principles," the statement noted. Modi also stressed that these AI models should be distinct, actively promoting local indigenous content and regional languages.
Startups as Co-Architects of India's AI Future
Prime Minister Modi lauded the entrepreneurs, stating that AI startups and entrepreneurs are the co-architects of India's future. He expressed confidence in the country's immense capacity for both groundbreaking innovation and large-scale implementation of AI solutions.
The twelve startups present at the meeting are not just any companies; they have all qualified for the prestigious 'AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge' at the forthcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026. The cohort represents a diverse cross-section of AI innovation in the country:
- Avataar
- BharatGen
- Fractal
- Gan
- Genloop
- Gnani
- Intellihealth
- Sarvam
- Shodh AI
- Soket AI
- Tech Mahindra
- Zenteiq
These companies are working on a wide array of cutting-edge applications. Their work spans Indian language foundation models, multilingual large language models (LLMs), and speech-to-text as well as text-to-audio and video technologies. Other focus areas include using generative AI for 3D content in e-commerce and marketing, engineering simulations, advanced analytics for industry, and critical healthcare diagnostics and medical research.
Building Momentum and Global Trust
The startups at the meeting strongly backed the government's commitment to advancing the AI ecosystem. They highlighted the vast future potential of the sector and observed a significant shift: the centre of gravity for AI innovation and deployment is beginning to move towards India.
This meeting underscores a strategic national effort to harness artificial intelligence not just for economic growth but as a tool for societal good. By championing ethical, affordable, and inclusive models rooted in Indian languages and contexts, the initiative aims to ensure that the benefits of AI reach every corner of society while establishing India as a trustworthy and innovative player on the global AI stage.
