Inauguration of Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025
On October 17, 2025, Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 at Hotel Ramada, Dehradun. Organized by the Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand, in collaboration with the India AI Mission under MeitY, this event served as a precursor to the India – AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19–20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit was graced by key dignitaries, including Shri Nitesh Kumar Jha, Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Uttarakhand; Shri Mohammed Y. Safirulla, Director, India AI 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.
Vision for a New Bharat: AI for All
In his address, Shri Jitin Prasada emphasized India’s leadership in democratizing AI for global impact. “What nuclear technology was to the last century, AI is to this one. India is ensuring this opportunity is inclusive, making world-class computing power accessible at less than a dollar an hour. From transforming governance and education to managing events like the Kumbh Mela with AI, Bharat is showcasing what’s possible. This is the New Bharat—confident, capable, and leading in technology for societal good,” he said. Shri Nitesh Kumar Jha highlighted Uttarakhand’s proactive role in AI innovation. “Our goal is not just to use AI but to create it. We’ve established a Centre of Excellence and the nation’s first Drone Applications Centre, integrating AI into drone technology, which earned us a national award from the Hon’ble Prime Minister this year,” he noted.
Showcasing AI Innovations and Collaborations
The summit brought together premier institutions such as IIT Roorkee, IIM Kashipur, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, UPES, and STPI Dehradun. AI-led startups supported by IIM Kashipur and STPI Dehradun showcased practical applications of AI in governance, entrepreneurship, and social impact, demonstrating the technology’s transformative potential. A panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Vivek Agrawal, Country Director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, featured experts like Smt. Sharmishta Das, Dr. Safal Batra (CEO, FIED, IIM Kashipur), Dr. Durgesh Pant, Prof. Ram Sharma, and Dr. Azam Ali (CEO, TIDES, IIT Roorkee). The session explored AI’s evolving role, emphasizing the need to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among youth. Panelists called for stronger collaboration between academia, startups, and policymakers to promote responsible AI adoption for public good in Uttarakhand.
Setting the Stage for India – AI Impact Summit 2026
The Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 laid the groundwork for the India – AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI forum hosted in the Global South. Anchored in India’s vision of “AI for All,” the 2026 summit aims to harness AI for social inclusion, innovation, and enhanced public service delivery. It will position India as a global advocate for equitable, sustainable, and people-centric AI development.
About India – AI Impact Summit 2026
Event Details
The India – AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by MeitY, will take place on February 19–20, 2026, in New Delhi. This global platform will showcase AI’s transformative role in fostering inclusive development, sustainability, and equitable progress.
The Three Sutras: Guiding Principles
The summit is built on three core principles:
- People: AI must respect cultural diversity, preserve dignity, and ensure inclusivity through multilingual, accessible, and safe systems.
- Planet: AI development should prioritize resource efficiency, climate resilience, and environmental protection.
- Progress: AI’s benefits must be equitably distributed, democratizing access to data, compute, and models while advancing sectors like healthcare, education, and governance.
The Seven Chakras: Areas of Action
These principles translate into seven focus areas for multilateral cooperation:
- Human Capital: Addressing employment, skilling, and workforce transformation.
- Inclusion for Social Empowerment: Ensuring AI reflects diverse languages, cultures, and identities while preventing biases.
- Safe and Trusted AI: Providing tools for safety testing, transparency, and interoperable governance.
- Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency: Promoting resource-efficient AI adaptable to local realities.
- Science: Expanding AI’s role in research and discovery, particularly in the Global South.
- Democratizing AI Resources: Ensuring equitable access to data, compute, and infrastructure.
- AI for Economic Development & Social Good: Scaling AI applications in public interest sectors.
India’s Role in Global AI Leadership
As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, the India – AI Impact Summit 2026 will shape a global discourse on AI’s measurable impact. By bringing together world leaders, innovators, policymakers, and industry pioneers, the summit will advance a shared vision for AI that serves humanity equitably, reinforcing India’s role as a convener for the Global South and beyond.