India AI Impact Summit and the New Delhi Declaration
19 February 2026
India hosted the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in February 2026, with the leaders' segment on 19 February. It was the first such summit in the Global South. It ended with the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, a non-binding text on inclusive, human-centric AI, endorsed by close to ninety countries and organisations, including both the US and China. Related initiatives included a Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI. Critics said it said little about the concentration of computing power or about safety risks.
Background. The summit series began at Bletchley Park, UK (2023), went to Seoul (2024) and to Paris for the AI Action Summit (February 2025). India's own IndiaAI Mission was approved in 2024 with about ₹10,372 crore.
Why CLAT asks: Host cities of the AI summit series are an obvious question; the non-binding nature of the declaration is another.
Sources: Digital India (Government of India): India AI Impact Summit 2026 concludes at Bharat Mandapam; Fortune: India's AI Impact Summit closes with the New Delhi Declaration (23 February 2026)
18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi adopts the New Delhi Declaration
12 September 2026
India, which took over the BRICS chair on 1 January 2026, hosted the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12 and 13 September 2026, under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus despite differences between Iran and the UAE over West Asia. Among its points: support for a larger UN role for India and Brazil, opposition to unilateral tariffs and secondary sanctions, and backing for India-led initiatives on AI and big-cat conservation.
Background. BRICS began as BRIC (first summit at Yekaterinburg, 2009); South Africa joined in 2010. Its full members are now Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The New Development Bank is in Shanghai. This was India's fourth chairship, after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Why CLAT asks: BRICS membership changes are tested often: count the members and know who joined when.
Sources: South African Government News Agency: BRICS Summit concludes with adoption of New Delhi Declaration; Business Standard: PM Modi announces adoption of BRICS Delhi Declaration (12 September 2026)
India at the 52nd G7 Summit in Évian, France
16 June 2026
France hosted the 52nd G7 Summit at Évian-les-Bains from 15 to 17 June 2026. India attended the outreach sessions on 16 and 17 June at President Macron's invitation, its 13th G7 appearance and Prime Minister Modi's seventh in a row. The outreach covered international partnerships, development, balanced growth and safe use of AI. Modi and President Trump met there, their first meeting in person since February 2025.
Background. The G7 is the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada, with the EU taking part. Russia was suspended from the G8 in 2014. Canada hosted in 2025 at Kananaskis.
Why CLAT asks: Name the G7, and remember India attends as an invitee, not a member.
Sources: Times of Oman (ANI): India to participate in G7 summit for 13th time, PM Modi's 7th consecutive participation; The Hitavada: PM Modi, Trump meet at G7 Summit (17 June 2026)
Quad foreign ministers meet in New Delhi
26 May 2026
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted the Quad foreign ministers at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on 26 May 2026: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australia's Penny Wong and Japan's Toshimitsu Motegi. It was their first meeting since Washington on 1 July 2025, and the agenda covered Indo-Pacific cooperation, West Asia and energy security.
Background. The Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) of India, the US, Japan and Australia grew out of the 2004 tsunami response, was proposed in 2007, revived in 2017 and held its first leaders' summit in 2021.
Why CLAT asks: The four Quad members, and the difference between the Quad and AUKUS, are steady questions.
Source: All India Radio News: Quad Foreign Ministers meeting to be held in New Delhi today (26 May 2026)
Third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo
19 May 2026
Prime Minister Modi attended the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on 19 May 2026 with the Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, focused on technology, green energy, the blue economy, defence, space and the Arctic. It was the first visit to Norway by an Indian Prime Minister in over four decades, and King Harald V conferred on him the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
Background. The first India-Nordic Summit was in Stockholm (2018) and the second in Copenhagen (2022). Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein form EFTA, with which India's trade agreement is in force.
Why CLAT asks: Nordic countries and their summit cities, and honours conferred on the Prime Minister abroad, are common one-liners.
Sources: Al Jazeera: India-Nordic summit: Why is Modi wooing Northern Europe? (19 May 2026); IANS: PM Modi to attend 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Norway today
