What was meant to be India's moment on the global AI stage turned into a nightmare of mismanagement on Monday as the India AI Summit 2026 descended into chaos—prompting a rare apology from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and sharp political attacks from the Congress.
On Day 1 of the five-day summit at Bharat Mandapam, over 70,000 attendees—including startup founders, tech innovators, and international delegates—were left stranded in serpentine queues for hours, while reports of stolen prototypes, failed internet connectivity, and cash-only food stalls triggered widespread outrage on social media .
'If Anyone Faced Problems, We Apologise': Vaishnaw
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Vaishnaw acknowledged the scale of the disaster candidly. "This is the world's biggest AI summit. The response was phenomenal—more than 70,000 people turned up on Day 1. But if anyone faced problems yesterday, we apologise for that," he said .
The Minister assured that a 24x7 "war room" has been activated for real-time monitoring and urged attendees to share feedback. "We are open-minded. We will make efforts to make the experience smoother and enjoyable for all of you," he added .
'Extreme Distress': Founders Locked Out, Products Stolen
The summit's opening day was marked by scenes that many founders described as humiliating. Attendees reported waiting up to three hours at entry gates, only to be evacuated from halls during security sweeps ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit .
Maitreya Wagh, co-founder of AI voice startup Bolna, tweeted that he couldn't access his own booth. "Gates are closed so could not access my own booth at the AI Summit. If you're also stuck outside, DM me," he posted, suggesting an impromptu meeting point at a Connaught Place café .
The most serious allegation came from Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of AI wearable startup Neo Sapien. Yadav claimed that when he and his team were asked to vacate their stall for security checks, they were assured their belongings would be safe. Upon returning hours later, their AI wearables—expensive prototypes brought for demonstration—had vanished.
"We paid for flights, accommodation, logistics and even the booth, only to see our wearables disappear inside a high-security zone. This is extremely disappointing," Yadav wrote .
Ironies at a 'Digital India' Event: No Internet, Cash Only
In a cruel twist for a technology summit, attendees reported that Wi-Fi was non-functional and mobile networks were patchy, forcing food stalls to accept only cash—excluding international delegates and those without physical currency .
Punit Jain, founder of Reskill, captured the frustration: "An AI Summit that sidelines its own builders? 7 am: Queues, 9 am: Entry, 12 pm: Full evacuation. Meanwhile, exhibitors, delegates, and startup founders left outside. No water. No clarity. If access was limited to select high-value guests, just say it upfront. Don't mobilise the ecosystem and then displace it" .
Prohibited items included laptops, bags, cameras, and even water bottles—leaving attendees unable to work or even stay hydrated .
Congress Strikes: 'PR-Hungry Government'
The opposition was quick to capitalise on the fiasco. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a blistering attack, calling the summit "utter chaos and rank mismanagement by this PR-hungry government."
"What could have been a showpiece AI Summit for the entire world, demonstrating India's digital capabilities, has turned into global embarrassment," Kharge posted on X. He alleged that exhibitors were left without food and water, products were stolen, and the Prime Minister "gatecrashed for a photo opportunity" while founders suffered .
Kharge also pointed to the irony of cash-only payments at a "Digital India" event and suggested the Centre learn from the smoothly-run Bengaluru Tech Summit .
What Went Wrong? The Day in Numbers
The scale of the disaster is evident from the numbers. Over 70,000 attendees overwhelmed a venue seemingly unprepared for such crowds. The registration system crashed multiple times. Entry gates were sealed for six hours (12 pm to 6 pm) during VIP movements. Founders with paid stalls were locked out. International delegates faced hunger because they had no cash .
Reuters reported that even journalists spent much of the day seeking clarity on entry procedures, with confusion over digital QR codes and physical passes .
The Bigger Picture: A 'War Room' and Wounded Pride
Despite the chaos, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 remains a landmark event—the first global AI gathering hosted in the Global South, with over 20 heads of state and tech leaders like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman expected to attend .
Vaishnaw has promised that the war room will address issues in real time, and organisers insist arrangements are now smooth. But for many founders, the damage runs deeper.
As one attendee posted on X: "The Impact AI Summit in Delhi was a perfect demonstration of why India keeps losing in tech. Cash-only payments at a 'Digital India' event, exhibitors locked out of stalls, three-hour entry queues. Unless we get the basics right, we cannot claim to be utilising AI to its fullest" .
For now, the government's apology has been accepted cautiously—but the industry will be watching closely whether the remaining four days redeem India's AI moment.
