New Delhi, January 9, 2026 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday engaged with a dozen Indian artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups in a roundtable meeting at his residence, underscoring the critical need for AI models that reflect India’s linguistic, social, and economic realities while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and data privacy. The meeting, convened ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 15 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, was attended by CEOs and founders of 12 start-ups selected under the India AI Mission, as well as officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

The Prime Minister’s interaction with the start-ups highlighted India’s growing prominence in the global AI landscape and its potential to become a leader in the development of AI systems tailored to local needs. Modi emphasised that India should develop AI solutions that not only serve domestic purposes but also have global relevance, reflecting the vision of “Made in India, Made for the World.” He encouraged start-ups to focus on innovation that leverages indigenous knowledge, promotes regional languages, and incorporates India-specific data sets to address social and economic challenges unique to the country.

During the roundtable, the start-ups briefed the Prime Minister on their ongoing projects and the progress of their AI models. The discussion revealed a diverse range of applications, spanning e-commerce, marketing, healthcare, material research, engineering simulations, and advanced data analytics. Several start-ups are working on language models specific to Indian languages, speech-to-text and text-to-video AI tools, and diagnostic tools in healthcare, demonstrating the breadth and depth of India’s AI capabilities.

The 12 participating start-ups include Sarvam, Gan, Gnani, Soket AI, Intellihealth (NeuroDx), Shodh AI, Genloop, Tech Mahindra, Avataar, BharatGen, Fractal, and Zenteiq. Each of these companies has been tasked with developing AI solutions that reflect Indian social and economic contexts while also promoting technological adoption at scale. According to Modi, India’s demographic and cultural diversity presents a unique advantage: with a population of 1.4 billion, the country offers a massive pool of potential AI users and innovators. The Prime Minister encouraged start-ups to leverage this advantage to create AI models that are inclusive, accessible, and contextually relevant.

During the discussion, Modi emphasised the importance of ethics and trustworthiness in AI development. He highlighted that AI systems must operate transparently, remain free from bias, and protect user data rigorously. However, he cautioned against over-regulation or restrictive data governance practices that could stifle innovation. Modi stressed that the government’s approach should strike a balance between safeguarding personal and sensitive data and enabling rapid technological adoption and innovation. This perspective reflects a pragmatic approach to AI governance, where security and privacy are paramount but do not become barriers to progress.

The CEOs and founders attending the roundtable described the meeting as highly motivating and insightful. Siddharth Panwar, CEO of NeuroDx, said, “We got to interact with the Prime Minister directly and see a side of him that is deeply engaged with both technology and the country at large. His understanding of technology, combined with a broad perspective on India, was inspiring for all of us.” Sravanth Aluru, CEO of Avataar, described the session as “deeply energising” and highlighted Modi’s emphasis on achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, India’s roadmap for comprehensive development by the country’s centenary.

Modi also underlined India’s unique advantage in AI adoption. Aluru noted that the Prime Minister pointed out the country’s openness to technology and the rapid pace of adoption as a strategic edge. India’s population, he said, represents not only a market but also a testing ground for AI solutions at an unprecedented scale. Modi encouraged start-ups to showcase India’s AI capabilities on a global stage, demonstrating that solutions developed in the country could have significant impact worldwide.

In terms of practical guidance, Modi focused on data governance and security. Ayush Gupta, CEO of Genloop, explained that the Prime Minister advised start-ups to develop a practical approach to data handling, where data security and privacy are strictly maintained without restricting access to data for AI innovation. Modi stressed that protecting data is essential, but it should not become a tool to prevent experimentation, research, or technological development. This nuanced approach aims to position India as a global hub for safe, responsible, and innovative AI solutions.

Ganesh Gopalan, co-founder of Gnani, highlighted the Prime Minister’s confidence in India’s ability to develop sovereign AI models that are reliable, ethical, and capable of serving diverse communities. Modi encouraged start-ups to prioritize trust, transparency, and accountability while pursuing cutting-edge technological innovations. He also stressed the importance of regional inclusivity, urging developers to incorporate Indian languages, local knowledge, and socio-economic realities into AI systems to ensure equitable access and benefits for all segments of society.

The Prime Minister’s remarks also emphasized AI’s potential in transforming various sectors of the economy. For instance, in healthcare, AI-driven diagnostic tools can enhance early detection and treatment, while in agriculture, AI can optimize crop management and supply chains. Similarly, AI can play a transformative role in education, financial services, urban planning, and governance, providing solutions tailored to India’s complex demographic and socio-economic landscape. The discussion reinforced the government’s commitment to leveraging AI as a catalyst for inclusive growth and national development.

Abhishek Upperwal, founder of Soket AI, noted that the India AI Impact Summit would serve as a launchpad for the country’s AI priorities. The summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, is expected to showcase AI projects addressing critical challenges in healthcare, governance, education, language technologies, and industrial innovation. Upperwal said that the Prime Minister’s vision is for India to develop AI systems that not only solve domestic problems but also generate measurable impact globally, positioning India as a responsible and influential player in the global AI ecosystem.

The roundtable was attended by several senior government officials, including MeitY Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State Jitin Prasada, Secretary S. Krishnan, and Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI Mission and additional secretary at MeitY. The participation of these officials reflected the government’s commitment to providing policy support, funding, and regulatory guidance to start-ups to ensure their innovations thrive and remain aligned with national priorities.

Overall, the interaction reflected the government’s strategic approach toward AI as a tool for national development. By prioritizing ethical frameworks, data privacy, regional relevance, and indigenous content, the government seeks to ensure that AI adoption is responsible, inclusive, and sustainable. Modi’s engagement with start-ups underscores the government’s focus on fostering homegrown technological talent while creating AI solutions that address India’s unique challenges and have global applicability.

Prime Minister Modi concluded the meeting with encouragement for start-ups to pursue innovation that is ethical, inclusive, and impactful. He emphasized that India’s demographic advantage, cultural diversity, and openness to technology provide a unique opportunity to shape AI solutions that are not only relevant for India but also set standards globally. By nurturing a robust AI ecosystem, India can emerge as a leader in the global technology landscape, achieving the dual goals of national development and global competitiveness.

The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the India AI Mission and the upcoming AI Impact Summit 2026 as critical platforms for showcasing India’s technological leadership, promoting innovation, and reinforcing the country’s role as a global hub for responsible, ethical, and contextually relevant AI solutions.