Lucknow emerged as a key hub for India’s artificial intelligence roadmap as it hosted the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 along with the Fourth Meeting of the AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group. The high-level gathering brought together policymakers, international organisations, industry leaders and researchers to advance conversations around responsible, inclusive and impact-driven AI, with healthcare positioned as a central priority. The event was organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with IndiaAI, with support from the Uttar Pradesh government, and forms part of the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 scheduled for February.
A major highlight of the conference was the announcement of the UP AI Mission by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Backed by a proposed outlay of around ₹2,000 crore, the mission aims to build a robust, state-led AI ecosystem aligned with India’s national digital and AI priorities. Healthcare will be a cornerstone of the initiative, with planned applications spanning early disease diagnosis, critical care decision support, and data-driven public health management. The initiative positions Uttar Pradesh as a large-scale testbed for population-level AI deployment in governance and social sectors.
Strengthening institutional capacity was another key focus area. Under the broader IndiaAI Mission, plans were unveiled to establish 62 AI and data labs across Uttar Pradesh. In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed between IndiaAI and the state government to jointly set up Data and AI Labs, aimed at accelerating research, skill development, and real-world AI adoption. These labs are expected to play a critical role in nurturing local talent, supporting startups, and enabling collaborative innovation between academia, industry and government.
Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada highlighted India’s growing position as a global provider of AI and digital services. He also underlined the importance of proactively addressing emerging challenges such as cybersecurity risks, deepfakes, data governance and gaps in digital literacy. Discussions at the conference reflected a balance between adopting global best practices and addressing the unique needs of the Global South, particularly in areas such as public healthcare delivery and inclusive development.
The conference reinforced Uttar Pradesh’s ambition to be at the forefront of India’s AI journey, leveraging scale, policy support and institutional frameworks to drive measurable social and economic impact. As momentum builds toward the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the outcomes from Lucknow are expected to shape national conversations on how AI can be responsibly deployed for growth and social good.
