As India sharpens its role in the global artificial intelligence discourse, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has positioned its dedicated Pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as a central platform for showcasing indigenous innovation, startup depth and a policy led vision for responsible AI adoption.
Set up at the Summit venue, the Pavilion houses the WAVES Creators Corner and functions as a structured media and dialogue space where policymakers, entrepreneurs, creators, investors and global delegates converge. The objective is to align artificial intelligence development with India’s developmental priorities, cultural diversity and national security considerations while projecting the country as a creator of scalable and socially relevant AI solutions.
Officials associated with the initiative said the Pavilion is designed to present India’s AI ecosystem not merely as a consumer of global technologies but as an originator of products and frameworks suited for both domestic and international markets.
Platform For Indian AI Innovation
The Pavilion foregrounds Indian startups operating across sectors including healthcare, media, content creation, governance and social impact. Through curated conversations and founder led presentations, companies building AI solutions for Bharat and global markets are being provided visibility before policymakers, investors and international stakeholders.
A key feature of the programming is direct interaction between startups and senior government officials, enabling two way dialogue on regulation, infrastructure and global market access. All sessions at the WAVES Creators Corner are being live streamed on WAVES OTT, the digital platform of Prasar Bharati, extending the Summit’s reach beyond the physical venue.
YourStory Curates Startup Programming
The startup narrative at the Pavilion is being curated by YourStory, which is anchoring multiple sessions focused on emerging founders, women leaders in AI and enterprises building solutions for Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Shradha Sharma is moderating discussions covering AI sovereignty, social impact ventures and live founder pitch sessions.
Observers noted that integrating a startup focused media platform within a government Pavilion signals an evolution in India’s innovation storytelling, blending policy articulation with entrepreneur led narratives.
Structured Programming Across Five Days
On Monday, February 16, access to the Pavilion was restricted due to scheduled high level engagements. The day featured panels titled Showcasing Upcoming Startups Set 1 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and Set 2 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, highlighting selected AI ventures through anchor led interactions.
Tuesday, February 17, centres on governance and policy direction. A fireside chat titled India’s AI Moment from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM features Shradha Sharma in conversation with the Secretary, MIB, on sustaining India’s AI momentum. From 1:00 PM to 1:40 PM, a panel on AI and Sovereignty will address issues of national security, data control and indigenous AI development.
Later that day, from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Lal Chand Bisu, Founder of KUKU FM, will participate in a fireside chat discussing local language content and AI driven distribution models. At 5:00 PM, Bhumi Pednekar will join a session examining cinema, advocacy and emerging technologies.
Wednesday, February 18, focuses on inclusion and founder participation. The schedule includes Showcasing Upcoming Startups Set 3 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, a Women in AI panel from 3:00 PM to 3:40 PM featuring women founders and industry leaders, and Startups Live with SS from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, where founders will deliver rapid two minute pitches.
Thursday, February 19, will remain closed to public access due to scheduled visits by Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron.
Friday, February 20, concludes the Pavilion’s programming with a focus on impact and Bharat centric innovation. From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, a panel on AI Startups Making Social Impact will spotlight mission driven ventures. At 3:00 PM, The Bharat Opportunity panel will feature startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 India building AI solutions, followed by Showcasing Upcoming Startups Set 4 at 4:00 PM.
Aligning With Global AI Discourse
Officials emphasised that the Pavilion’s broader mandate is to integrate Indian startups into the global AI conversation while preserving local context. By convening startups, creators and policymakers within a single forum, the Ministry seeks to translate India’s AI policy vision into visible, market ready capabilities.
As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 progresses, the MIB Pavilion stands as a consolidated window into how India intends to shape, govern and scale artificial intelligence through collaboration, entrepreneurship and strategic policy alignment.
