AI Impact Summit: Questions on ‘Viksit Bharat’ Roadmap
A deserted kiosk of Neosapiens at AI Expo 2026 on day one in New Delhi. (Image X.com)
Intrusive security drills for the movements of VIPs proved to be more important than India’s bid to assert AI prowess
By AMIT KUMAR
New Delhi, February 18, 2026 — The AI Impact Summit at the Bharat Mandapam lit the firestorm on social media platforms for all the wrong reasons — chaos, confusion, and crushing security drills. On Day Two, the government media managers sought to amplify messages of relief from CEOs who had vented out anger a day before.
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam was showcased as an Indian statement in the global tech order. At Davos, Union Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw had claimed that India is at the core of global AI revolution, developing full stack of the artificial intelligence.
But intrusive security drills for the movements of VIPs proved to be more important than India’s bid to assert AI prowess. Participants were stranded. They spent days struggling to access the venue. The course correction came on Day Two when the VIPs had finished their rituals of attending the event.
The India AI Impact Expo 2026 has garnered participation from 300 exhibitors. Reports said that 600 startups have also onboarded the event. Day One complaints consisted of entry delays, internet failures, cash-only stalls, and booth clearances.
Dhananjay Yadav, a startup CEO, wrote: “Day 1 of the AI Impact Summit turned to be a pain for us. At 12 noon, security personnel arrived to sanitise and cordon off the area ahead of the visit by PM Modi.”
He appreciated the arrangements for Day Two. “After yesterday’s chaos, Delhi Police has been extremely proactive and supportive. The event itself felt much smoother today,” added Yadav.
Former diplomat Yogesh Gupta had empathised with the pain of Yadav, writing on X: “Wish our security people are more sensitised to needs of others taking part in such conferences. These should not become an occasion for netas to show up and claim credit leaving behind such horrible experiences.”
While the course corrections came on Day Two, the India AI Impact Expo had already gained traction for wrong reasons. The chaos on day one also raised question on India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ slogan. Security drills for VIPs can derail the ‘Viksit Bharat’ train so easily. The chaos also raises questions on Delhi’s capability to host such international events. The national capital has already been battling acute air quality crisis for months with no respite.
(This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are author’s own.)
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