Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw formally launched the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence in New Delhi.
Organised by the IndiaAI Mission and MeitY in collaboration with the World Bank, the event gathered global experts to examine how developing economies can harness AI through adoption, adaptation, and advancement.
Vaishnaw emphasised India’s core philosophy of democratizing technology, citing real-world impacts such as a 40% rise in sugarcane yields via voice-based phone tools in Baramati and enhanced tuberculosis detection in healthcare.
Highlighting initiatives like AgriStack in Gujarat, the Minister illustrated how AI is successfully transforming grassroots sectors.
World Bank Chief Economist Dr Michael Kremer praised India’s full-stack approach and AI-based monsoon forecasting, noting that India’s trajectory offers crucial development solutions for the wider Global South.
Furthermore, Report Director Dr Gaurav Nayyar underscored that developing nations should stay optimistic, strategic, and pragmatic by adapting open-access models locally.
The launch also featured a high-level panel discussion and a State AI Showcase displaying scalable innovations—such as early childhood developmental screening from Andhra Pradesh and crop-advisory platforms from Maharashtra—cementing India’s role as a major ecosystem for inclusive AI deployment.
