The India AI Impact Summit 2026, a five-day event that commenced on February 16, entered its second day on Tuesday. Throughout the summit, the government is engaging with various industry leaders and technocrats to explore the vast potential of the country’s AI and deep tech ecosystem. On Tuesday, Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that India expects to receive substantial investments to significantly boost AI adoption over the coming two years.
India’s AI and Deep Tech Ecosystem Set to Benefit from Existing Digital Foundations
Citing the Union IT minister, reports indicate that India is projected to attract more than $200 billion (approximately Rs. 18.14 lakh crore) in investments across its AI and deep tech sectors within the next two years. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted two key areas of interest: direct AI investments within the country and considerable funding from venture capitalists targeting India’s deep tech ecosystem.
For several years, the government has championed the development of a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) as a cornerstone of its ‘Digital India’ mission. This includes pivotal initiatives such as UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC). These efforts have resulted in the establishment of remarkable technological frameworks nationwide. Emphasizing how this infrastructure will accelerate AI adoption in India, the minister underscored the strategic advantage of the country’s DPI-backed technological foundation.
Furthermore, the Union Minister noted that prominent global tech leaders and CEOs have expressed a strong interest in investing in India, specifically drawn to its rapidly growing deep tech startup ecosystem and its expanding infrastructure.
These interests are not isolated but rather part of a broader trend within India’s AI landscape. In recent times, numerous global tech giants have committed to significant investments in India. Their strategies involve engaging the country’s vast internet-user demographic by offering competitive plans, establishing local operations, and building extensive data centers across the nation. Notably, Anthropic recently inaugurated its first Indian office in Bengaluru, simultaneously announcing job openings to recruit local talent. The US-based company also confirmed that India boasts the second-largest user base for its AI-powered chatbot, Claude.
Similarly, OpenAI has commenced hiring efforts in anticipation of opening its first office in New Delhi, with ambitious plans to construct data centers throughout India. In December 2025, Microsoft also announced a substantial investment of approximately $17.5 billion (roughly Rs. 1.57 lakh crore) in India, slated for deployment over the subsequent four years.