More countries join the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact

1. At a Glance

• New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact is a non-binding multilateral declaration adopted at the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi on 18–19 February 2026, anchored in the principle "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay" (Welfare for all, Happiness of all) [S1][S2].
• Signatories grew from 88 (as on 21 Feb 2026) to 91 countries and international organisations after Bangladesh, Costa Rica and Guatemala joined on 24 Feb 2026 [S1].
• Marks India's emergence as the first Global South host of a Global AI Summit, succeeding Bletchley Park (UK, 2023), Seoul (2024) and Paris (2025) [S2][S3].

2. Why in the News

• 24 Feb 2026 PIB release: 3 new signatories (Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Guatemala) joined the Declaration, taking the tally to 91 [S1].
• 18–19 Feb 2026: AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded in New Delhi with adoption of the Declaration [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• Bletchley Declaration, UK, Nov 2023 — first global AI Safety Summit.
• Seoul Summit, May 2024 — Seoul Declaration on safe, innovative, inclusive AI.
• Paris AI Action Summit, Feb 2025 — co-chaired by India and France.
• India-AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi, 18–19 Feb 2026 — culminated in the New Delhi Declaration; first such summit in the Global South [S2][S3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Host city / dates: New Delhi, 18–19 February 2026 (broader summit window 16–21 Feb) [S1][S2].
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY); nodal mission IndiaAI Mission [S1].
• Signatories: 91 countries + international organisations (as of 24 Feb 2026) — including major powers USA and China [S1][S2].
• 3 Sutras (foundational principles): People, Planet, Progress [S3].
• 7 Chakras / Working Groups: (i) Human Capital, (ii) Inclusion, (iii) Safe & Trusted AI, (iv) Resilience, (v) Science, (vi) Democratizing AI Resources, (vii) Social Good [S3].
• Guiding ethos: Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay — equitable sharing of AI benefits [S2].
• Nature: Non-binding, consensus-based declaration [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic - Broadest multilateral consensus on AI to date — includes both US and China as signatories despite tech rivalry [S2]. - Cements India's positioning as voice of the Global South in digital governance, complementing G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (2023) [S2]. - Late additions (Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Guatemala) extend reach into South Asia, Central America [S1].

Ethical / Governance - Builds on principle of human-centric, rights-respecting AI; emphasises national sovereignty in AI governance [S1][S3]. - "Safe & Trusted AI" Chakra addresses risk, bias, misuse [S3].

Economic - "Democratizing AI Resources" Chakra seeks to bridge compute and data divides for developing nations [S3]. - Aligns with IndiaAI Mission (₹10,371.92 crore outlay, approved March 2024) — though the Declaration itself is not a funding instrument.

Scientific / Technological - Promotes energy-efficient AI systems under the Planet Sutra — links AI to climate/sustainability [S3]. - "Science" Chakra targets AI for scientific discovery and capacity building [S3].

Social - "Inclusion" and "Social Good" Chakras focus on equitable access, public-interest applications [S3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2025: India co-chaired Paris AI Action Summit with France.
• Jan 2026: MeitY released summit logo and flagship initiatives [S3].
• 18–19 Feb 2026: Summit held; Declaration adopted with 88 endorsements [S2].
• 21 Feb 2026: PIB Press Release ID 2231208 listed 88 signatories [S1].
• 24 Feb 2026: Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Guatemala join — tally rises to 91 [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi, 18–19 February 2026 [S2].
• Nodal Ministry: MeitY (not MEA, not NITI Aayog) [S1].
• Total signatories as of 24 Feb 2026: 91 countries and international organisations [S1].
• 3 latest signatories (Feb 2026): Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Guatemala [S1].
• Guiding Sanskrit principle: Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay [S2].
• 3 Sutras: People, Planet, Progress [S3].
• 7 Chakras: Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe & Trusted AI, Resilience, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, Social Good [S3].
• Declaration is non-binding [S2].
• First global AI summit hosted in the Global South [S3].
• Predecessor summits: Bletchley (2023), Seoul (2024), Paris (2025).
• Declaration signed by both USA and China [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: International Relations — Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India; effect of policies of developed/developing countries.
• GS-III: Science & Technology — Awareness in IT, AI; indigenisation and emerging tech.
• Probable question stems:
• "The New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact reflects India's bid to lead Global South digital governance. Examine."
• "Discuss the principles and limitations of non-binding multilateral declarations on AI in the absence of a global AI treaty."
• "Evaluate the '3 Sutras and 7 Chakras' framework as a model for inclusive AI governance."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• IndiaAI Mission (2024) — ₹10,371 crore domestic AI ecosystem programme; directly operationalises Declaration commitments.
• Bletchley / Seoul / Paris AI Summits — predecessor multilateral processes.
• Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) — India was Lead Chair 2024; institutional precursor.
• G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (2023) — DPI and AI references.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — domestic legal complement.
• UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI (2021) — normative parallel.
• EU AI Act (2024) — contrast: binding regulation vs India's voluntary push.
• Bletchley Park's AI Safety Institute network — risk-side counterpart.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: Declaration is under MeitY, not MEA or NITI Aayog (MEA only hosts the document).
• Signatory count flux: 88 (21 Feb) vs 91 (24 Feb 2026) — exam may test either; cite latest [S1].
• Confusing Sutras with Chakras: Sutras are 3 (People/Planet/Progress); Chakras are 7 thematic working groups [S3].
• Binding vs non-binding: It is non-binding, unlike the EU AI Act.
• Don't confuse with the Bletchley Declaration (2023) or Seoul Declaration (2024) — different host, scope, signatories.

11. Sources

• [S1] More countries join the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232005 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] AI Impact Summit 2026 Concludes with Adoption of New Delhi Declaration — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2231208 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Seven Chakras of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2225069 — (tier: 1)