AI Impact Summit generated Rs 69 cr in revenue against Rs 65 cr expenditure: Centre

The Rs 69 crore revenue came from sale of exhibition space and associated services to exhibitors, the government informed Lok Sabha.

New Delhi: The AI India Impact Summit has incurred an expenditure of Rs 65 crore while it generated Rs 69 crore from the sale of exhibition space and associated services to exhibitors, the government informed Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The response came in a written reply by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan to questions raised by senior Trinamool Congress MP Mala Roy.

The summit had run into controversy over allegations of mismanagement as well as one of the exhibitors Galgotias University displaying a Chinese-made robodog as its own and a 'shirtless' protest by Youth Congress.

Murugan said that it was for the first time that the Global AI Summit took place in the Global South and the shift signalled a broader move toward a more inclusive global AI dialogue.

He said the summit, which was held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi between February 16 and 21, concluded as a historic global convergence, firmly establishing India as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation, governance, partnership, and inclusive growth.

"The five-day mega-event, the largest of its kind hosted by any developing nation, brought together leaders from governments, industry, academia, civil society, and startups under the theme 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' (Welfare for all, Happiness of all), Murugan said.

The India AI Impact Expo was conducted during the summit, aligning with the theme of showcasing India’s power of AI for Global Good.

"While the total expenditure on the Summit incurred till 9 March, 2026 is Rs 65 crore, the total proceeds generated from the sale of exhibition space and associated services to exhibitors is approximately Rs 69 crore," the Minister said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had criticised the event saying, “instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased."