India AI Impact Festival 2026
AI for Bharat: Enriching Lives with AI Innovation
Celebrating transformative AI solutions that empower every Indian, ensuring technology drives progress that is accessible and equitable for all.
About
The India AI Impact Festival 2026 is a national platform that brings together students, educators, faculty, academic institutions, and innovation-led ventures to showcase AI innovations and best practices, while celebrating the transformative momentum of India’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
The Festival is a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), INDIAai Mission, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and Intel India.
With two successful editions of enabling students, educators, institutions with AI capabilities to design and scale solutions for real-world impact, the India AI Impact Festival 2026 envisions a future where technology drives inclusive growth and sustainable development across India and beyond.
Festival Journey
Explore the stages of the India AI Impact Festival 2026
India AI Impact Festival 2026 goes live
Entry submissions open across all participation categories
Submitted entries are evaluated by an independent expert panel
Shortlisted entries undergo virtual jury interactions with experts from Government, Industry, and Academia
Finalists across the four competing categories are selected & Top 3 AI Impact Creators are nominated as ‘Team India’ for the Intel®️ AI Global Impact Festival 2026
Winners are felicitated and showcased at the national level, along with special recognitions
Competing Categories
The India AI Impact Festival 2026 invites participation under four categories, namely –
AI Impact Creators
Sub-Categories
- Students in the 13-17 years age group
- Students 18 years & above
Target Audience
Students in K-12 / higher education / equivalent ecosystems with an Innovative AI-Enabled Social Impact Solution
AI Impact Shapers
Sub-Categories
- Educators – K-12
- Educators – Higher education
Target Audience
Educators from K-12 / Higher education / equivalent ecosystem with innovative AI teaching-learning practices
AI Impact Nurturers
Sub-Categories
- Academic institutions – K-12
- Academic institutions – Higher education
Target Audience
Academic institutions (schools, colleges, training centers, and more) with innovative AI teaching-learning practices
AI Impact Catalysts
Sub-Categories
- Emerging Start-ups (early-stage)
- Scaling Start-ups (growth-stage)
Target Audience
Cutting-edge AI start-ups building innovative, scalable solutions with demonstrable real-world impact
Awards & Recognitions
Participate in the India AI Impact Festival 2026 and receive a joint certification from all partner organisations, with opportunities to win awards, prizes, showcase opportunities, and more.
Core Award Categories
AI Impact Creators
Overall top cutting-edge innovations
3 Finalists from each group:
AI Impact Shapers
Shaping the future ecosystem
- Educators – K-12 ecosystem
- Educators – Higher-Ed ecosystem
AI Impact Nurturers
Nurturing AI communities
- Academic Institutions – K-12 ecosystem
- Academic Institutions – Higher-Ed ecosystem
AI Impact Catalysts
Accelerators of AI adoption
- Emerging Start-ups (early-stage)
- Scaling Start-ups (growth-stage)
Evaluation of Entries
Stage 1
Entry Submission and Screening
- Entries will be submitted through the national platform.
- All submissions will undergo an initial screening and evaluation process.
- Top 15 Shortlisted entries from each category will advance to the next stage.
Stage 2
Virtual Jury Interactions
- Shortlisted participants will attend virtual interviews with jury members.
- The jury panel will include experts from Government, Industry, and Academia.
- Participants will present their AI-driven solutions and explain their impact.
Stage 3
Final Selection and Recognition
- Final evaluations will be conducted based on jury interactions and overall performance.
- Top-3 AI Impact Creators will be nominated as “Team India” for the Intel® AI Global Impact Festival 2026.
- Winners and outstanding participants will be felicitated during the national showcase and post-festival celebrations.