India AI Impact Summit Opening Day Faces Widespread Criticism Over Organizational Lapses

Opening Day Challenges at India AI Impact Summit

The inaugural day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, held at the Bharat Mandapam, was marred by widespread complaints regarding organizational shortcomings. Attendees reported experiencing lengthy queues, severe overcrowding, and a general lack of clear communication, leading to frustration among delegates, exhibitors, and visitors alike.

The summit, envisioned as a platform to highlight India's growing ambitions in artificial intelligence and foster global collaboration, saw its opening proceedings on February 16, 2026, overshadowed by logistical challenges.

Attendee Frustrations and Operational Glitches

Numerous participants took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction, detailing a range of issues encountered at the venue. These included:

• Long queues at entry points and for basic amenities.
• Overcrowding in hallways, making movement difficult.
• Inadequate signage for directions and facilities.
• Limited access to essential services such as water and food.
• Patchy mobile network coverage and poor internet connectivity, an ironic issue for a technology summit.
• Cash-only food counters in some areas, despite India's push for digital payments.

Further compounding the issues were sudden venue clearances for security sweeps, reportedly conducted ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled inauguration. This led to confusion and left many attendees, including exhibitors and startup founders, stranded outside without clear instructions or access to their belongings. Some exhibitors even reported that their items were stolen following these evacuations. Speakers scheduled for panels also faced uncertainty, with some still awaiting confirmation of session details and agendas.

Summit's Ambition Amidst Criticism

Organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission, the five-day summit (February 16-20, 2026) aims to bring together global leaders, policymakers, tech CEOs, researchers, and industry experts. It is positioned as the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, with objectives to advance responsible AI development, foster global collaboration, and establish India as a leader in AI innovation, ensuring its benefits are accessible to all. Notable attendees expected include French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and tech executives like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman.

Despite the high-profile attendance and ambitious agenda, the initial organizational challenges have drawn sharp criticism, with some questioning the planning and execution of such a significant international event.