PM Modi: India's Talent & Budget 2026-27 Fuel AI Powerhouse Ambition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed strong confidence in India's potential to become a global AI powerhouse, driven by its talent and entrepreneurial energy. He highlighted that the Union Budget 2026-27 reinforces this vision by expanding support for critical infrastructure like data centres and cloud computing. The government is backing this through the IndiaAI framework, providing startups and institutions with access to high-performance compute resources. This push coincides with India hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026, a major global gathering aimed at shaping inclusive and development-oriented AI.

Key Points: PM Modi: India's Talent to Make It an AI Powerhouse

  • Budget 2026-27 expands data centre support
  • AI to enhance manufacturing and create jobs
  • IndiaAI framework provides compute resources
  • Focus on domestic semiconductor manufacturing
  • Hosting global AI Impact Summit 2026
2 min read

India has talent, entrepreneurial energy to become AI powerhouse, Union Budget 2026-27 reinforces this vision: PM Modi

PM Modi says India has the talent & entrepreneurial energy to be an AI creator, with Budget 2026-27 reinforcing support for infrastructure & innovation.

"India has the talent and entrepreneurial energy to become an AI powerhouse, not just as a consumer, but a creator. - PM Modi"

New Delhi, February 17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has the talent and entrepreneurial energy to become an AI powerhouse and the country's startups and tech ecosystem can build AI solutions that enhance manufacturing and generate new jobs.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, PM Modi said the government remains committed to strengthening every effort by the youth to make AI a force-multiplier for innovation and inclusion and the Union Budget 2026-27 reinforces this vision.

"India has the talent and entrepreneurial energy to become an AI powerhouse, not just as a consumer, but a creator. Our startups, research institutions and tech ecosystem can build AI solutions that enhance manufacturing, improve governance and generate new jobs. I am confident that our youth can build AI solutions for Indian realities, designed for farmers, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators," he said.

"We remain committed to strengthening every effort by our talented youth to make AI a force-multiplier for innovation and inclusion. The Union Budget 2026-27 reinforces this vision. It expands support for data centres and cloud infrastructure, strengthening domestic compute capacity," he added.

PM Modi said that under the IndiaAI framework, startups and research institutions are being supported with access to high-performance AI compute resources.

"Continued push for semiconductor manufacturing, electronics PLI, AI Centres of Excellence and digital skilling strengthens both hardware and human capital foundations. In short, we are not just nurturing talent, but we are building the infrastructure, policy ecosystem and skills base required for India to move from participating in the AI revolution to shaping it," he said.

India is hosting AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20. It is anchored in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet and Progress.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday.

The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, has witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.

PM Modi will deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hoping the 'AI for Indian realities' part is real. We need solutions for our farmers - crop disease prediction in local languages, fair price alerts. That's true inclusion, not just fancy tech demos.
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Rohit P
Hosting the global summit is a big deal! Shows India's growing leadership in tech. The youth are ready, just need the right infrastructure and less red tape for startups. Let's do this!
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Sarah B
As someone working in Bangalore's tech scene, the emphasis on compute access for startups is welcome. The real test will be equitable access beyond the big cities. Hope Tier-2/3 city innovators get support too.
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Karthik V
Building the hardware foundation (semiconductors) is the smartest long-term play. We have the software talent, now we need the silicon. This vision needs consistent funding beyond one budget cycle.
M
Meera T
While the ambition is good, I hope there's equal focus on the ethics and regulation of AI. We've seen problems with bias in other countries. Our solutions must be fair and protect citizen privacy from day one.
D
David E
The 'People, Planet, Progress' framework for the summit is impressive. If India can lead on developing sustainable and inclusive AI models from the Global South, it will change

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