NEW DELHI: In a strategic push towards India’s AI ambitions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a pivotal meeting with leading CEOs and experts from the artificial intelligence sector at his residence on 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
The interaction, held on January 29, 2026, comes just ahead of the upcoming IndiaAI Impact Summit in February, aiming to forge collaborations, highlight innovations, and propel the nation’s AI mission forward.
The roundtable featured prominent industry figures, including CEOs from Wipro, TCS, HCL Tech, Zoho Corporation, LTI Mindtree, Jio Platforms Ltd, AdaniConnex, Nxtra Data, and Netweb Technologies.
Academic experts from IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, and IIT Bombay also participated, alongside Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada. This diverse gathering underscored the government’s commitment to blending industry insights with academic expertise to build a robust AI ecosystem.
Emphasis on Ethical and Secure AI Framework
During the discussions, Prime Minister Modi stressed the imperative of ethical AI practices, declaring, “We should work towards an AI ecosystem which is transparent, impartial and secure.” He further asserted, “There should be no compromise on ethical use of AI,” while emphasizing that India’s AI framework must “reflect the character and values of the nation.” The Prime Minister highlighted the critical role of data security and the democratization of technology, urging a focus on AI skilling and talent building to cultivate a skilled workforce.
Modi advocated for embracing cutting-edge technologies across all sectors to drive national growth, with a strong push for indigenous solutions. He drew parallels to India’s digital achievements, stating, “Through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India has demonstrated its technical prowess and the same can be replicated in the field of AI as well.” This model, he suggested, could serve as a blueprint for scalable and trusted AI systems, leveraging India’s unique strengths in scale, diversity, and democracy, which have earned global trust in its digital infrastructure.
Vision for ‘AI for All’ and Global Impact
Aligning with his vision of ‘AI for All,’ the Prime Minister called for technologies that not only create tangible impact but also “inspire the world.” He encouraged participants to position India as “a fertile destination for all global AI efforts,” urging them to utilize the IndiaAI Impact Summit as a platform to explore opportunities and accelerate innovation-driven growth. Discussions also touched on building a sovereign AI ecosystem through collaborations between industry, academia, and government, with an eye on boosting sectoral economies and ensuring self-reliance.
Industry Leaders Echo Support and Share Insights
Industry leaders responded enthusiastically, expressing robust backing for India’s self-sufficiency in AI and praising the government’s initiatives to elevate the country on the global stage. C Vijayakumar, CEO and MD of HCL Tech, described the interaction as “very inspiring,” noting Modi’s focus on creating world-leading AI solutions with a unique Indian proposition.
KK Krithivasan, CEO of TCS, was “really impressed” by Modi’s vision, highlighting the call to “not only impact, but also inspire the world,” while ensuring self-reliance and citizen privacy. Venugopal Lambu, CEO and MD of LTI Mindtree, hailed it as “the most inspired and motivational talk” from a world leader, emphasizing AI’s role in universal access for health, economic growth, and productivity.
Srini Pallia, CEO and MD of Wipro, praised discussions on “skilling India, building applications for India, building a sovereign infrastructure,” and turning India into an AI export hub via models like UPI. Sridhar Vembu, Founder of Zoho Corporation, drew inspiration for addressing country-relevant problems and achieving technological self-reliance. Kiran Thomas, CEO of Jio Platforms Limited, was struck by Modi’s “feel for what AI can do for India,” advocating for independent capacity development.
Sanjay Lodha, Chairman and Managing Director of Netweb Technologies, shared that the talks centered on “building a sovereign AI ecosystem which must withstand the R&D evolution needs at many levels by bringing together industry, academia and government.” He reiterated themes like ethical AI, sectoral economic boosts, data security, and talent investment, aligning with Netweb’s commitments to indigenous manufacturing.
The meeting signals a concerted effort to harness AI for inclusive growth, with no immediate announcements of new initiatives but a clear roadmap emphasizing ethics, innovation, and self-reliance. As India gears up for the IndiaAI Impact Summit, this dialogue sets the stage for transformative partnerships that could position the nation as a global AI powerhouse.
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