MeitY, ISB convene Governance Summit 2026 to discuss inclusive AI and public service delivery
New Delhi, May 25
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in collaboration with Indian School of Business, convened the Governance Summit 2026 with a focus on using artificial intelligence for inclusive growth, governance reforms and last-mile public service delivery.
The summit, themed "Inclusive AI for Viksit Bharat", brought together senior government officials, industry representatives, academics and civil society organisations to discuss the use of AI across sectors such as healthcare, education, digital commerce, entrepreneurship and public safety.
Organised by the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB, the summit featured panel discussions on AI's role in digital commerce, online safety for women and children, healthcare access and affordability, and job creation and digital entrepreneurship.
A parallel roundtable discussion examined how AI can be operationalised for last-mile public service delivery at the level of state governments and gram panchayats.
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the government is committed to building an AI ecosystem that benefits all sections of society, including those at the margins of the digital economy.
"Artificial intelligence presents India with a transformative opportunity to enhance productivity, improve governance, and expand access across sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and financial inclusion," Krishnan said.
He also said that while concerns over AI's impact on cognitive jobs are understandable, India is positioned to use the technology for inclusive growth.
In his opening remarks, Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB, said AI should be viewed as a long-term national mission.
"AI must be viewed as a long-term national mission shaping the future of the next generation," Chhatre said.
He identified inequality, leapfrogging opportunities and the future of jobs as key aspects of the emerging AI landscape and stressed the need for safeguards, social security mechanisms and affirmative action to ensure equitable access to AI opportunities.
The summit saw participation from organisations including Reliance Retail, Mastercard, Apollo Hospitals, IIT Madras, UNICEF India and the Punjab Police, along with representatives from several central and state government ministries.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is exactly what we need - a Viksit Bharat powered by inclusive AI. But we must be careful about data privacy and job displacement. Our IT sector workers need reskilling programmes alongside these advancements. Glad to see Apollo Hospitals and IIT Madras involved in healthcare AI discussions! 🏥
Impressive collaboration between government and academia. The focus on last-mile delivery through gram panchayats is particularly noteworthy. As someone working in digital governance, I believe India's unique challenge of scale and diversity makes this summit critical for shaping future policy.
While I appreciate the vision, what about the financial constraints of smaller states? Not all state governments can afford AI implementation. The government must provide dedicated funding and technical support to ensure this doesn't become another Digital India where rural areas remain disconnected. Need implementation roadmap with clear timelines.
The inclusion of online safety for women and children is commendable. India needs robust AI-driven content moderation systems that respect cultural sensitivities while protecting vulnerable groups. Good to see UNICEF India participating - their global expertise will be valuable. 👏
As a teacher in a government school, I really hope this translates into better digital resources for classrooms. Currently our smart boards gather dust because teachers aren't trained. AI could help create personalised learning content in regional languages. But first, basic digital literacy programs are essential for both teachers and students.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.