Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologised for the disruptions that marked the opening day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, acknowledging overcrowding and logistical issues while promising a smoother experience in the coming days.
Speaking at Bharat Mandapam, Vaishnaw described the turnout as “phenomenal,” noting that more than 70,000 attendees visited the summit on Tuesday alone. He said the scale of participation reflected India’s growing influence in the global AI ecosystem but admitted that the overwhelming response led to operational strain on Day 1.
The minister said a dedicated “war room” has been functioning since the inaugural day to streamline crowd management, security coordination and entry processes. He invited feedback from participants and assured that the government is committed to improving the overall experience.
The summit’s opening day drew startup founders, global tech executives and international delegates, but heavy footfall resulted in long queues, overlapping security checks and confusion at entry gates. Several exhibitors reported being temporarily asked to vacate stalls during security sweeps ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, causing disruption to product demonstrations.
Dhananjay Yadav, co-founder of Neo Sapien, alleged that AI wearables displayed at his booth went missing during a sudden evacuation. He termed the incident disappointing, citing significant investment in travel, logistics and exhibition space.
Other founders also raised concerns about communication gaps and restricted access. Punit Jain of Reskill said participants were left waiting outside for extended periods without clear updates. An entrepreneur, Priyanshu Ratnakar, criticised connectivity issues, including patchy Wi-Fi and mobile networks, and described the first day as prioritising optics over execution.
On Day 2, another CEO noted that despite participating on a strong recommendation from headquarters, customer footfall at stalls remained limited.
Organisers have since implemented corrective measures to ease congestion and improve coordination. With the summit running until February 20, many participants remain optimistic that stronger engagement and smoother logistics will define the remaining days of what is being positioned as one of the world’s largest AI gatherings.
