Scaling Trusted AI for Cancer Care Through the CATCH Initiative
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 (16-20 February, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi), organized under the IndiaAI Mission, convened global AI leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and sectoral experts to advance India’s AI ecosystem. A highlight was the IndiaAI–NCG Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Award Ceremony, a pivotal step forward for responsible AI in oncology.
This collaboration between the IndiaAI Mission and the National Cancer Grid (NCG), demonstrates a unified push to convert AI innovation into tangible clinical benefits across India’s cancer care landscape.
Opening Reflections: From Vision to Implementation
The session began with keynote remarks from Shri Vijay Nehra, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Both underscored the need for robust public digital infrastructure and AI solutions that are innovative yet practically deployable in real-world health systems-shifting focus from promise to proven practice.
Launch of the CATCH Compendium
A key milestone was the release of the CATCH Compendium 2026, a curated collection of high-impact oncology AI use cases rigorously evaluated under the IndiaAI–NCG framework. Launched with leaders from government, research, clinical care, and philanthropy, it reinforced that scaling trusted AI demands deep cross-sector partnerships.
CATCH Grant Award Ceremony
The ceremony honored innovators whose solutions excelled in clinical relevance, implementation feasibility, governance readiness, and national-scale potential. The CATCH Grant Winners announced were:
DeepTek | ENDIMENSION | Foster AI | Lenek | Manentia AI | Qure.ai | Rad AI | Revan AI | Vyuhaa Med Data | Wellytics
Partnering with diverse cancer hospitals across India including Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Vizag | Max Healthcare, Delhi | Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH), Prayagraj | Malabar Cancer Centre, Thalassery | Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre, Delhi | Christian Medical College, Vellore | Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
These organizations embody years of dedicated research and commitment to solving pressing oncology challenges-from screening and diagnostics to patient engagement and decision support. The awards mark a transition from standalone pilots to structured validation and ethical deployment across hospital networks. All shortlisted finalists were also recognized for enriching India’s AI-oncology ecosystem.
Recognition & Certificate Distribution
Certificates were awarded to participants and contributors, celebrating their involvement in a demanding evaluation and collaborative journey. This symbolized a shared dedication to:
Responsible AI: A National Imperative
Smt. Kavita Bhatia delivered an inspiring message: AI in healthcare must be responsible, inclusive, and outcome-focused-innovation exists to reach patients and enhance lives. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), reinforced the need for rigorous evidence, evaluation, and thoughtful implementation to drive real change.
Panel Discussion: From Innovation to Impact
Moderated by Dr. Anunaya Jain, the panel-"From Innovation to Impact - Scaling Trusted AI for Cancer Care"-featured:
Discussions centered on validation frameworks, data governance, ethical safeguards, workflow integration, and scaling across diverse systems-highlighting the essential role of clinician-policymaker-technologist-global health collaboration.
A Collective Effort
The Summit’s success stemmed from unprecedented coordination among organizers, technical teams, operations staff, security, and support personnel-ensuring flawless execution of this landmark event.
The Road Ahead
The IndiaAI-NCG CATCH initiative launches a transformative phase. Through structured pilots, governance-aligned frameworks, and institutional partnerships, AI in oncology is evolving from experimental to measurable, life-saving impact.
As NCG and KCDO advance implementation, the priority remains unwavering: to deploy trusted, validated, responsibly scaled AI solutions that meaningfully improve cancer outcomes for all Indians.
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