India’s AI and Digital Innovations Take Centre Stage at India Day During UNGA Week
The fifth edition featured two sessions focused on development innovation, artificial intelligence, climate action, women-led development, health and inclusive growth
India’s experience with artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and inclusive development took centre stage at the fifth edition of ‘India Day @ UNGA’, held during the week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Organised by the Reliance Foundation, the United Nations in India and the Observer Research Foundation, the event brought together representatives from governments, multilateral institutions, civil society and the private sector to discuss ways to scale development innovations and accelerate progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The fifth edition featured two sessions focused on development innovation, artificial intelligence, climate action, women-led development, health and inclusive growth.
The session titled ‘From India to the World: Scaling Development Innovations for Global Impact’ examined how development models and innovations emerging from India could be adapted and scaled across the Global South and other regions.
A high-level ministerial session, titled ‘Ruptures & Ramparts: Building Bridges for a Changing World’, focused on the changing global development landscape and the role of technology, climate action, finance and international partnerships.
The session featured External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith; Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation Melvin Bouva; Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; and Celeste Connors, President and Chief Executive of the East-West Center in the US.
The discussion examined how geopolitical, climate and technological disruptions are reshaping international development and explored the need for new approaches to cooperation around innovation, technology, finance and partnerships.
Since its launch in 2022, India Day @ UNGA has provided a platform for discussions on development models, equity and scalable solutions, with a focus on experiences emerging from India.
The 2026 edition placed particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and its potential applications in development. A special publication examining lessons from India’s AI ecosystem was also launched during the event.
The organisers said this year’s discussions focused on governance, collaboration and ways to move solutions from local contexts to population-scale implementation amid rapid technological, geopolitical and climate-related changes.