Dehradun – Minister of State for Electronics and IT, and Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, on Friday inaugurated the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 in Dehradun, calling for the development of artificial intelligence that is “responsible, inclusive and made in India.”
The event, hosted by the Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), serves as a pre-summit to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in February next year.
Speaking at the inauguration, Prasada said AI represents a transformative force similar to nuclear technology in the last century, but with greater potential for inclusive growth.
“What nuclear technology once was to the last century, AI is to this one. But this time, India is ensuring the opportunity belongs to everyone,” he said.
He added that the government is making world-class computing power accessible at less than a dollar an hour, enabling affordable research and innovation.
“From managing the Kumbh with AI to transforming governance and education, Bharat is showing what was once unimaginable is now possible,” he said.
Focus on innovation from Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand IT Secretary Nitesh Kumar Jha said the state’s goal is not just to use AI but to build it. He noted that the government has set up a Centre of Excellence and the first Drone Applications Centre in the state, integrating AI with drone technology—a project that recently received a national award from the Prime Minister.
The summit brought together representatives from IIT Roorkee, IIM Kashipur, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, UPES, and STPI Dehradun, along with AI-led startups demonstrating applications in governance, entrepreneurship and social development.
A panel discussion moderated by Vivek Agrawal, Country Director of the Tony Blair Institute, explored the evolving AI landscape and the need for collaboration among academia, startups and policymakers.
Setting the stage for India–AI Impact Summit 2026
The Uttarakhand event marks the beginning of India’s preparations for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, billed as the first global AI forum hosted in the Global South.
The summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 19–20, 2026, will showcase how AI can support inclusive growth, sustainability and social development.
The 2026 summit will be guided by three key principles—People, Planet and Progress—and structured around seven focus areas or “chakras”, including human capital, trusted AI, social inclusion, and AI for economic development.
Officials said India aims to position itself as a global hub for people-centric AI governance and innovation, reinforcing its “AI for All” vision.
