India AI Impact Summit in Delhi is a 'Mahakumbh for AI', says minister Jitin Prasada

AI push must benefit all, not just a few, says minister Jitin Prasada at India AI Summit

• India's AI push seen as key to growth and global competitiveness
• Minister calls for wider access, digital literacy to prevent new divides
• AI must boost ease of living, not just remain academic

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Calling India’s growing artificial intelligence push a pivotal moment, minister of state for commerce, electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said the country is witnessing a transformational phase where technology and trade together are emerging as the twin engines of growth.

Describing the ongoing India AI Impact Summit in Delhi as a “Mahakumbh for AI”, Prasada said India is moving ahead rapidly in technological capability, but cautioned that governments must remain agile to keep pace with the speed of innovation. Without timely adaptation, he warned, institutions risk being left behind as the tech sector evolves quickly.

He also cautioned against creating a new digital divide similar to the early internet era. Ensuring broad access, digital literacy and equitable adoption would be critical so that technology enhances opportunities without exacerbating inequality.

Prasada highlighted India’s demographic advantage, noting the country remains a global talent hub. However, he stressed that talent alone will not suffice unless the workforce — particularly young people — is equipped with the skills needed to build AI capacity.

According to him, AI should not remain confined to academic discussion but must translate into practical capability building.

He said countries in the Global South are increasingly interested not in theoretical discussions on AI but in how the technology tangibly improves lives, governance and economic opportunity.

Ease of doing business and ease of living, he said, should remain central objectives of AI deployment. Prasada stressed the government’s commitment to democratising access to technology so that benefits reach rural areas and smaller towns rather than being concentrated only in metropolitan centres. Data availability, he added, would be the key “fuel” driving such transformation.

At the same time, Prasada acknowledged emerging risks from new technologies, including cybersecurity threats, misinformation and deepfakes, warning that these challenges have the potential to disrupt democratic processes if not addressed proactively. Strengthening digital literacy, he said, will be essential alongside technological expansion.