How India's New Delhi Declaration Became The AI Pact Backed By 91 Countries

The AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi on Feb. 18 and 19, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, a document which was launched with the aim of strengthening international cooperation on artificial intelligence and guiding its use for economic growth and social welfare.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the declaration marked a collective attempt by governments and international bodies to shape the future use of AI through shared principles, voluntary cooperation, and non-binding frameworks.

As of Feb. 21, the declaration had been reportedly endorsed by 88 countries and international organisations.

Since then, Bangladesh, Costa Rica and Guatemala have joined the initiative, taking the total number of endorsing countries and organisations to 91.

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What Is The Declaration?

The declaration is guided by the principle of 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya', meaning welfare and happiness for all.

It states that the benefits of AI should be shared equitably across societies and regions. Participating countries agreed on the need for stronger international cooperation, wider engagement with governments, industry and civil society, and respect for national sovereignty while advancing AI through accessible and trustworthy systems.

The document places importance on ensuring that AI contributes to economic development and social good, while remaining secure, reliable and inclusive. It also highlights the importance of energy efficiency, innovation and long-term sustainability in AI systems.

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The New Delhi Declaration is organised around seven core pillars, referred to as “chakras”, which form the basis of global cooperation on AI. These include democratising access to AI resources, promoting economic growth and social good, ensuring secure and trusted AI systems, using AI for scientific research, expanding access for social empowerment, developing human capital, and building resilient, efficient and innovative AI systems.

Several voluntary and collaborative initiatives were announced alongside the declaration, which are as follows:

1. The Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI, which aims to promote affordable access to foundational AI resources and support locally relevant innovation. 
2. The Global AI Impact Commons, is designed as a platform to help countries share, adapt and scale successful AI use cases across sectors and regions.
3. The Trusted AI Commons, a shared repository of tools, benchmarks and best practices to support the development of secure and trustworthy AI systems. 
4. International Network of AI for Science Institutions was proposed to connect research communities and pool AI capabilities globally.
5. AI for Social Empowerment platform was outlined to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and scalable solutions focused on inclusive AI adoption. 
6. A playbook on AI workforce development and guiding principles for reskilling were released to help countries prepare citizens for an AI-driven economy.

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