Uttar Pradesh is accelerating its AI ambitions, with the state positioning Lucknow as a growing centre for AI innovation, governance transformation, and deeptech investment.
The state recently held the ‘AI Transformation Conclave 2026’ in Lucknow, where more than 50 IAS officers and senior administrators from across the country participated in discussions around AI-led governance and digital transformation.
A key highlight of the conclave was a high-level workshop titled “The AI-Powered Public Administrator: Competencies for a New Era of Governance,” conducted by Subi Chaturvedi, Founder of NIHIT and Sherpa of Working Group-7 of the India-US CEO Forum.
“Uttar Pradesh, especially Lucknow, is emerging as the most suitable centre for AI innovation in India,” Chaturvedi said, adding that the city is evolving from a cultural centre into a hub for innovation and technology under the current administration.
She noted that investments and deeptech operations by companies such as InMobi are contributing to the development of a broader ecosystem encompassing governance, research, digital infrastructure, talent and entrepreneurship in the state.
The conclave also featured discussions around Uttar Pradesh’s AI policy roadmap, including the recently approved ₹368 crore AI City project in Lucknow’s Vrindavan Yojana and the ₹225 crore allocation earmarked for the UP AI Mission.
Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Executive Officer of the State Transformation Commission, said Uttar Pradesh is working towards becoming a national model for AI-driven governance, which could further support the state’s ambition of a trillion-dollar economy.
Meanwhile, Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary of the IT and Electronics Department, said the government is committed to building infrastructure for emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing, and deeptech innovation.
The conclave also explored the role of AI in cybersecurity, digital governance, MSMEs, startups, and citizen-centric services. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘MANAV’ framework, Chaturvedi emphasised the importance of ethical, accountable, and human-centric AI systems.
NIHIT, the platform behind the initiative, operates under the India-US CEO Forum and is supported by InMobi, Mastercard, and Tata Sons to promote collaboration in innovation, startups, MSMEs, cybersecurity, and supply chain ecosystems between India and the United States.
Your reaction
Discussion
What's your take on this story?
No comments yet — be the first to share your view.