Uttarakhand Hosts Pre-Summit to India–AI Impact Summit 2026, focusing on Responsible and Inclusive AI Growth
We are making world-class computing power accessible at less than a dollar an hour: Hon’ble MOS Shri Jitin Prasada
The Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand, in collaboration with the India AI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India organised the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 on October 17, 2025, at Hotel Ramada, Dehradun. This is an official pre-summit event of the India – AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place on February 19 – 20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Jointly hosted by the Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand, the IndiaAI Mission, MeitY, the summit was inaugurated by Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Minister of State (MoS), MeitY, and was held in presence of Shri Nitesh Kumar Jha, Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Uttarakhand; Shri Mohammed Y. Safirulla, Director, IndiaAI Mission, MeitY; Dr. Durgesh Pant, Director General, UCOST; Prof. Ram Sharma, Vice Chancellor, UPES, Dehradun; Shri Sanjay Gupta, SIO, NIC; and Smt. Sharmishta Das, DDG & HOG, AI Division, NIC HQ.
Speaking at the event, Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble MoS, MeitY & Commerce and Industry, said, “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. We are making world-class computing power accessible at less than a dollar an hour, enabling research, innovation, and disruption for good. From managing the Kumbh with AI to transforming governance and education, Bharat is showing what was once unimaginable is now possible. This is the New Bharat – confident, capable, and leading the world in using technology for impact.”
Adding to this, Shri Nitesh Kumar Jha, Secretary, IT, Government of Uttarakhand, said, “ We are using AI regularly but the larger objective of the Government of India and our state is not just to use AI, but to create AI. Let us become creators of AI. We have established a Centre of Excellence and also set up the first Drone Applications Centre, where we are integrating AI into drone technology. For this, we have already received a national award this year from the Hon’ble Prime Minister.”
The pre-summit event brought together premier institutions, including IIT Roorkee, IIM Kashipur, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, UPES, and STPI Dehradun. It featured presentations by AI-led startups supported by IIM Kashipur and STPI Dehradun, highlighting practical applications of AI in governance, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
A panel discussion moderated by Mr. Vivek Agrawal, Country Director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, featured Smt. Sharmishta Das, DDG & HOG, AI Division, NIC HQ; Dr. Safal Batra, CEO, FIED, IIM Kashipur; Dr. Durgesh Pant, Director General, UCOST, GoUK, Prof. Ram Sharma, Vice Chancellor, UPES, Dehradun and Dr. Azam Ali, CEO, TIDES, IIT Roorkee. The session explored the evolving landscape of AI, emphasizing the need to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among youth. It highlighted the importance of encouraging students to go on the ground, understand root causes, and design ideas that create real social impact. The discussion also called for deeper collaboration between academia, startups, and policymakers to strengthen responsible and efficient AI adoption for public good in Uttarakhand.`
The Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 set the stage for the India – AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI forum to be hosted in the Global South. Reflecting on India’s growing leadership in shaping the global AI agenda, the summit is anchored in the nation’s vision of “AI for All.” It seeks to harness the power of AI to drive social inclusion, innovation, and improved public service delivery, reinforcing India’s position as a global advocate for equitable, sustainable, and people-centric AI development.
