Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underscored the strategic importance of artificial intelligence start-ups in shaping India’s economic and technological future, describing them as critical partners in the country’s growth journey. The remarks were made during a closed-door interaction with AI entrepreneurs, signalling the government’s intent to closely engage with the fast-evolving sector.
As artificial intelligence increasingly influences areas ranging from financial markets and governance to cybersecurity and healthcare, the Prime Minister emphasised that India’s goal is not limited to adopting existing global technologies. Instead, he called for the development of homegrown AI capabilities that can compete internationally while addressing domestic needs.
A key theme of the discussion was the creation of indigenous AI models trained on Indian datasets. Modi highlighted the importance of building systems that understand the country’s linguistic diversity and socio-economic context, noting that reliance on externally developed models may not fully reflect India’s realities.
The Prime Minister also placed strong emphasis on responsible innovation. He urged start-ups to ensure that AI solutions developed in India are fair, transparent and respectful of user privacy, particularly as adoption accelerates across public services and critical infrastructure.
Affordability and inclusivity were other priorities flagged during the interaction. Modi pointed out that India’s strength lies in creating scalable and cost-effective technology solutions, which could not only benefit domestic users but also find relevance across emerging economies worldwide.
The roundtable comes in the run-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Several start-ups participating in the discussion are working on foundational AI technologies, multilingual large language models and sector-specific applications, indicating the breadth of innovation currently underway within India’s AI ecosystem.
The government’s engagement with AI entrepreneurs reflects a broader policy push to position India as a global hub for ethical and impactful artificial intelligence, with start-ups expected to play a central role in that transition.
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