Chandigarh University Hosts India's First AI Fest 2026 on the sidelines of India AI Impact Summit
Chandigarh University launches CU AI Mission aligned with India AI Mission; becomes first Indian University to have its own dedicated AI Mission
"AI will not take your jobs; it will be taken by a human who knows the use of AI better than you," says Ankur Warikoo, Founder of WebVeda & social influencer at AI Fest – 2026 Chandigarh University
CHANDIGARH, India, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking a historic step in positioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a driving force for innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive national development while further strengthening India's emergence as a rapidly rising global AI hub, Chandigarh University organized India's first 'AI Fest - 2026' on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit – 2026 to empower young innovators, strengthen the AI start-up ecosystem and transform bold and scalable ideas into technology-driven solutions to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The mega initiative brought together global entrepreneurs, policymakers, AI leaders, corporates, academia, researchers, startups, and student innovators in a powerful convergence of technology, talent, and transformative ideas. The discussions spanned four broad themes—Evolving AI with Evolving Humans, AI Engineered Reality, AI Policy Governance and Structuring, and Technical Frontiers providing a dynamic platform to explore AI-driven innovation and inclusive economic growth.
The grand inauguration of AI Fest 2026 was held in the esteemed presence of Ankur Warikoo Founder of WebVeda, IndiaGeniusChallenge and Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson UpGrad and education-tech pioneer along with Member of Parliament and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu and eminent global AI leaders and industry experts.
Aligned with the India AI Mission, Chandigarh University became the first university in the country to launch the CU AI Mission, a comprehensive institutional roadmap focused on advancing research and development in Artificial Intelligence, promoting AI-led entrepreneurship and imparting AI literacy across academic disciplines. The mission aims to democratize AI knowledge by training 1.5 lakh youth, transforming India's demographic dividend into a globally competitive AI-first workforce equipped to lead and innovate across both academic and digital-first professional ecosystems.
Envisioned as a national launchpad for AI-driven startups and entrepreneurial talent, AI Fest 2026 features three flagship platforms - CU InnovFest 2026, Campus Tank and Sandbox designed to bridge the gap between idea generation, product development and market-ready solutions. The fest hosts more than 35 competitions across diverse AI and emerging technology domains, bringing together over 1,000 national and international teams with participation by over 10,000 students from more than 200 universities and colleges to showcase creativity, technical expertise and problem-solving capabilities. With a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, winning teams will receive cash awards and certificates of excellence. Participants will also gain access to globally recognized certifications from global analytics leader SAS Institute, with certification benefits valued at over Rs 1 crore.
Addressing the gathering during an Unfiltered session on AI Engineered Reality, Ankur Warikoo, Founder of WebVeda, IndiaGeniusChallenge said, "I truly believe that AI is not something to fear. Your job will not be taken away by AI, it will be taken away by someone who knows how to use AI better than you. The future belongs to those who embrace technology, learn continuously and adapt to change rather than run away from it."
"I am glad to see institutions like Chandigarh University creating platforms where conversations around AI are happening at the grassroots level. As students, all you need to do is to listen, stay curious and remain lifelong learners, because when you become a student for life, you never stop growing. Today, technology has removed all excuses for not learning. With AI tools, anyone can improve communication skills, learn new languages, build ideas and make better decisions."
Sharing useful tips with students, Warikoo added, "I always advise students to start something during college itself. Doing things teaches you about failure, resilience and clarity. Do not let the fear of what will people say stop you from pursuing your path. People will always have opinions, but your life should be guided by your own purpose and direction. Success is not about achieving everything early, it is about moving consistently in the right direction. When you use AI, do not use it just to get answers. Use it to improve your thinking. Ask it how to think about a problem rather than asking it to solve the problem for you."
Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu said, "Artificial Intelligence will emerge as India's next trillion-dollar growth engine. With the launch of
