NDTV World Summit 2026 Brings Global Leaders to New Delhi

The NDTV World Summit 2026 took place in New Delhi on October 22 and 23, drawing government officials, technology leaders and industry executives to discuss global economic shifts and India's role. The event operated under the theme "A World Between Orders" and featured multiple sessions addressing technology, trade and investment.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the summit regarding India-US trade negotiations, describing the process as being in its final stages. "Often the last mile or the penultimate miles do pose their challenges. I think the teams are working through them now," he said, adding that "it's never done till it's done." According to the Hindustan Times, the trade deal had figured in Jaishankar's recent meeting with US Secretary of State Rubio, who visited India for a second time in under five months.

A minister from the UAE discussed bilateral economic progress at the summit, noting that non-oil trade between India and the UAE had increased by 50 percent over three years. The growth was attributed to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2022, which the minister credited with strengthening economic ties between the nations.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a central theme throughout the summit's sessions. Microsoft AI expert Nicholas Butts warned that security threats from AI were immediate rather than distant, using a "leaky roof" analogy to describe current vulnerabilities. According to Butts, the concerns were not speculative warnings about a distant future but "very real security threats right here today."

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw discussed potential AI regulation in India, indicating that a paper on the subject would incorporate inputs from subject matter experts and common citizens. Technology leaders also participated in broader discussions on India's potential for AI adoption, research and development, smartphone innovation and affordable mobility.

Several speakers reflected on India's evolving economic position. A Pernod Ricard executive stated that "India is no longer just a market for global companies", explaining that the world was moving through a phase where established business models were changing and countries were seeking new opportunities.