Key Points
- Uttar Pradesh must align digital governance, AI adoption and public service delivery with stronger cybersecurity frameworks, citizen data protection and institutional readiness.
- Awanish Kumar Awasthi urged professionals, students and institutions to build AI literacy, saying future work across disciplines will increasingly depend on it.
- TrendAI said government cybersecurity must shift from reactive incident response to AI-enabled early detection, risk anticipation and resilience for citizen trust.
Lucknow — TrendAI, a global cybersecurity leader, in association with Tech Observer Magazine, hosted Cyber Sashakt Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow, bringing together senior government officials, cybersecurity experts and technology leaders to deliberate on strengthening the state’s digital infrastructure, public systems and cyber resilience.
The conclave was organised on the theme of Building a Secure Uttar Pradesh for Secure India and focused on the need to align Uttar Pradesh’s fast-paced digital transformation with robust cybersecurity frameworks, citizen data protection and institutional readiness.
Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, graced the programme as Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he underlined the importance of building wider awareness around AI and cybersecurity across government, industry and society.
“Everything is now in the digital domain. You do not need to physically move to create problems of any nature,” Awasthi said, highlighting the changing nature of security threats in a digitally connected environment.
He urged professionals, students and institutions to treat AI literacy as a necessary skill for the future. “Whether you are an engineer, a doctor, or a social scientist, if you do not learn AI, your work will not move forward. I am 64 years old and I am trying to learn it myself. Please, study AI,” he said.
Referring to Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to build future-ready skills, Awasthi spoke about initiatives including the Centre of Excellence in Gorakhpur, focused on AI, cybersecurity, drone technology and 3D printing, as well as the state’s move to introduce AI education from early school years.
Sharda Tickoo, Country Manager, TrendAI India and SAARC, said cybersecurity in government must be seen as a responsibility towards citizens, not merely as a technology function. “In the case of government, cybersecurity is a trust commitment made to citizens. As Uttar Pradesh builds its digital ambitions, we want that ecosystem to also be safe, secure and trusted,” she said.
She added that TrendAI’s engagement with Uttar Pradesh is guided by a shared vision to support secure digital growth, especially as the state accelerates adoption of digital governance platforms, public service delivery systems, AI-led innovation and connected infrastructure.
Tickoo said the next phase of cybersecurity for government must move beyond reactive response towards predictive, AI-enabled and resilience-focused security.
Cyber Sashakt Uttar Pradesh
“As states like Uttar Pradesh expand digital services across departments, cybersecurity has to move from incident response to early detection, risk anticipation and resilience. AI can help government organisations identify abnormal behaviour, prioritise threats and protect critical citizen services before disruption occurs,” she said.
The conclave also featured the presence of Mukesh Meshram, Additional Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries departments, Government of Uttar Pradesh, as Guest of Honour.
Dr. G.K. Goswami, Director, UP State Institute of Forensic Science, warned that conventional crime is increasingly shifting into the digital space and that public systems must be prepared for this transition. “Physical crime has shifted to the digital space. You just put an ‘E’ before any crime and you can commit it,” he said.
Dr. Goswami also underlined the importance of legal compliance in the digital era, noting that data protection obligations will make organisations more accountable for breaches and citizen data security.
Dr. Omkar Rai, former Director General, Software Technology Parks of India, said Uttar Pradesh’s scale makes cybersecurity a strategic imperative.
“Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country, with 25 crore people. It is rapidly digitising its assets and delivering services to its citizens, and it must ensure that its digital installations are properly secured,” he said. He also called for the creation of innovation ecosystems and startup platforms that enable the state’s youth to build indigenous cybersecurity solutions.
Kumar Vineet, Special Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, spoke about rising cyber incidents across India and the need for urgent action as public systems become more digital and connected. He said that as Uttar Pradesh’s digital footprint expands, risk exposure must be addressed through stronger controls, preparedness, and institutional coordination.
The programme also saw participation from Ashesh Kumar Agarwal, Deputy Director General and State Informatics Officer, NIC Uttar Pradesh; Prateesh Pranjal, CISO, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited; Dr. Rajesh Harshwardhan, Professor and Head of Hospital Administration, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow; and Mohd Ujaley, Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine.
TrendAI said the conclave reflected its commitment to working with government institutions, technology leaders and domain experts to help build a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem for Uttar Pradesh. As the state advances digital governance, AI adoption and connected public infrastructure, the company said cybersecurity must remain central to citizen trust, service continuity and long-term digital transformation.
Your Questions, Answered
What was Cyber Sashakt Uttar Pradesh about?
Cyber Sashakt Uttar Pradesh focused on strengthening the state’s digital infrastructure, public systems, citizen data protection and cyber resilience.
Who organised Cyber Sashakt Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow?
The conclave was organised by TrendAI, a global cybersecurity company, in association with Tech Observer Magazine.
What did Awanish Kumar Awasthi say at the event?
Awanish Kumar Awasthi stressed the need for wider AI literacy and cybersecurity awareness across government, industry, educational institutions and society.
Why is cybersecurity important for Uttar Pradesh’s digital governance?
Speakers said Uttar Pradesh’s expanding digital services, AI adoption and connected public infrastructure require stronger security to protect citizen trust and service continuity.
