Rajasthan Takes Centre Stage In India’s AI Push At DigiFest X TiE Global Summit 2026

Jaipur hosted the Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 as part of the Rajasthan DigiFest X TiE Global Summit, ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi

Central and state leaders outlined India’s AI vision, positioning AI as a general-purpose technology and the foundation of national power

The conference focused on shaping a national and global framework for inclusive, ethical and development-oriented AI adoption

The final day of Rajasthan DigiFest X TiE Global Summit 2026 saw Jaipur host the Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 as part of the broader Summit, placing the state at the centre of India’s evolving AI narrative ahead of the India AI Impact Summit scheduled to be held in Delhi on February 19-20, 2026.

The regional AI impact conferences are being organised across the country as precursors to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which follows a series of global AI deliberations, including the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025, the AI Seoul Summit in 2024 and the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit in 2023. The upcoming Summit aims to open new dialogue to help shape a global consensus on the responsible, inclusive and development-oriented use of AI.

The Jaipur conference brought together senior policymakers on a single platform, including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union minister for electronics and IT; Bhajan Lal Sharma, chief minister of Rajasthan; Jitin Prasada, Union minister of state for electronics and IT; and Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Rajasthan’s minister for IT and communications.

Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw described AI as the next general-purpose technology after electricity and the internet. “Just like electricity brought energy to every household, AI will bring intelligence to every person, every house and every industry,” he said.

Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s focus on democratising technology, noting that India’s AI strategy is anchored around access, affordability and scale. He also spoke about IndiaAI, an independent business division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which is working to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem that supports startups, strengthens data access and ensures the responsible use of AI for public good.

Union minister Prasada spoke about the role of India’s digital public infrastructure in enabling AI adoption at scale. He said India’s data depth, policy stability and vibrant startup ecosystem are attracting global investment, with AI emerging as the “new fuel for progress”.

Another key announcement at the conference was the launch of the National AI Literacy Campaign, which will be offered free of cost to students, professionals and citizens. The programme includes four hours of online training, hands-on guidance and a Government of India certificate on completion, with the objective of expanding AI awareness and skills across the population.

Outlining the state’s roadmap, CM Sharma said Jaipur hosting the regional AI conference signals that the state is ready to move beyond e-governance and emerge as a serious hub for AI and machine learning. “AI is not just a technology; it is the foundation of national power and prosperity in the 21st century,” Sharma said.

He also announced multiple launches at the conference, including the Rajasthan AI Policy, the iStart Learning Management System (LMS), the Rajasthan AVGC-XR Portal and the Rajasthan AI Portal.

The conference also witnessed the signing of MoUs with Google, IIT Delhi and National Law University, Jodhpur, using a 98-inch hologram projection screen for virtual MoU exchanges.

Sharma said the new AI and AVGC-XR policies will create jobs, strengthen startups and attract investment, while positioning Rajasthan as a data centre and digital infrastructure hub. He also urged the youth to not only prepare for jobs but to become job creators.

Col. Rathore said AI and digitisation are already transforming sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and industry. “These discussions are not just conversations; they are the blueprint for Rajasthan’s future,” he said, calling on stakeholders to move from dialogue to execution.

Apart from policymakers, the final day also saw participation from venture capitalists, founders and industry leaders, including Vikram Gupta, founder and managing partner of IvyCap Ventures; Anil Joshi, managing partner of Unicorn India Ventures; Sanjiv Singh, joint secretary of DPIIT; Amit Jain, cofounder and CEO of CarDekho Group; Mohit Yadav, cofounder of Minimalist; Arjun Vaidya, investor at Verlinvest; Prashant Tandon, founder of Tata 1mg; and Srinath Ravichandran, cofounder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.

Over the three-day event, Rajasthan DigiFest X TiE Global Summit 2026 hosted more than 10,000 attendees, over 300 exhibitors, 500-plus investors and more than 100 speakers.