Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 on Monday, February 16, at 5 p.m. The event will be held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, according to his office. Spread over 70,000 square metres and 10 arenas, the Expo will host global tech firms, startups, academic and research bodies, Union and State governments, and international partners. The Expo features 13 country pavilions, including Australia, Japan, Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and Africa. It will showcase over 300 exhibition pavilions and live AI demos across three themes: people, planet, and progress. More than 600 startups will present working AI solutions already in real use. The event expects over 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates. Over 500 sessions will take place with 3,250 speakers discussing AI’s impact across sectors and future steps to benefit all global citizens. On the diplomatic front, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top aide, Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Kremlin Staff and economic adviser, will head Russia’s delegation. A Kremlin source told PTI this signals a strong AI collaboration push between India and Russia. The delegation will focus on secure, trusted, and sovereign AI, engaging deeply on governance, technology, and partnerships within BRICS and other platforms. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted on BRICS TV that India’s focus on ICT security is crucial as new AI norms are formed to regulate state behaviours, especially regarding military AI use. "Some countries are actively introducing AI into military applications," Lavrov said, stressing sovereignty and transparency. India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, told state media TASS that India-Russia AI cooperation promises growth and technological advances for both strategic partners. The India AI Impact Expo 2026 aims to be a global showcase where innovation meets policy and technology meets people.