With artificial intelligence emerging as a critical driver of economic growth and public service transformation, Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself as a key player in India’s AI journey. Backed by large-scale infrastructure development, a strong talent base, and a clear policy intent, the state is moving beyond pilot projects towards ecosystem-led AI adoption. Shri Anurag Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary, Information Technology & Electronics Department, Government of Uftar Pradesh, speaks to Dr Ravi Gupta, Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Elets Technomedia, on the outcomes of the AI and Health Innovation Conference, the state’s ₹2,000 crore AI investment commitment, expansion of AI and IT hubs across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and Uftar Pradesh’s roadmap to become a creator of globally scalable AI solutions.

Uttar Pradesh recently hosted the AI and Health Innovation Conference. How do you assess the overall outcome of the event?

The AI and Health Innovation Conference has been extremely positive and impactful. It brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare practitioners, technologists, startups, and global institutions. The discussions were particularly focused on social sectors, especially healthcare, where the scale and complexity of public health challenges require innovative, technology-led solutions.

What stood out for me was the quality of participation and the depth of conversations. We saw a strong mix of global best practices and local implementation perspectives. Given the size of Uttar Pradesh and the scale of our public health responsibilities, technology, and especially AI, presents a significant opportunity. The conference reaffirmed that direction. The Hon’ble Chief Minister’s announcement committing ₹2,000 crore over the next three years for AI solutions further underlines the state’s seriousness. Overall, I would describe the conference as a grand success, both in terms of ideas generated and partnerships initiated.

Uttar Pradesh has witnessed rapid growth across sectors, particularly IT. How do you see this conference aligning with the state’s broader IT growth strategy?

Over the past eight years, Uttar Pradesh has undergone transformative change across almost all forms of infrastructure, including digital public infrastructure. Today, the state’s software exports stand at nearly ₹80,000 crore, which itself reflects the scale of growth and opportunity.

UP has always had strong foundational assets. Our human capital has been a major strength, supported by some of the country’s most prestigious institutions, including IIT Kanpur and IIT BHU. You would be hard-pressed to find a leading IT company that does not have alumni from these institutions in key roles. The talent and academic base were always present; the key challenge was how the government could effectively galvanise and channel this potential.

Over the last seven to eight years, we have consciously focused on IT and services as engines of growth. This has involved not just creating infrastructure, but also policy facilitation and ecosystem support. The fact that companies like IBM and Genpact are now expanding their presence in Lucknow reflects growing confidence in Uttar Pradesh as an IT destination. Conferences like this one play an important role by showcasing our intent, capabilities, and readiness to engage with advanced technologies such as AI.

The Government of India has articulated a strong national AI vision across sectors like health, education, agriculture, and water. How is Uttar Pradesh approaching AI deployment across these domains?

Our approach to AI in Uttar Pradesh has two distinct but interconnected dimensions. The first is the deployment of AI applications to address immediate governance and sectoral challenges. We already have validated AI solutions in agriculture, particularly in crop monitoring, disease detection, and pest control using image-based analysis. These solutions have demonstrated tangible value on the ground.

We are now extending similar approaches to other sectors, including education, healthcare, revenue administration, and other social sectors. In each case, the objective is to solve real problems at scale and deliver benefits for citizens.

The second dimension is equally important. We do not want Uttar Pradesh to be only a consumer or deployment destination for AI solutions. Our ambition is to position the state as a creator and enabler of AI technologies. This means building the capability to develop solutions that are not only relevant locally but also scalable globally.

What are the key enablers required for Uttar Pradesh to emerge as a creator of AI solutions rather than just a deployment state?

To become a creator of AI solutions, several foundational elements are required, and fortunately, Uttar Pradesh has a comparative advantage in many of these areas. Data is one such critical element. The Government of India has already launched platforms such as AIKosha and API Setu. At the state level, we are working on creating high-quality datasets that can be used to train AI models responsibly and effectively.

Another critical enabler is compute infrastructure. AI development requires access to significant computing power. We have already planned and sanctioned three Centres of Excellence in the state, which will focus on AI and emerging technologies.

Alongside this, we are working on providing shared compute facilities that startups and industry players can access to develop and test their models.

Equally important is the role of the IT department as an ecosystem enabler. Rather than individual departments working in silos, the IT department acts as the glue, leveraging digital public infrastructure and working closely with all other departments—whether health, education, or agriculture—to ensure that AI adoption is coordinated, scalable, and sustainable.

The state has announced plans to expand IT and AI hubs beyond major cities. Could you explain this vision in more detail?

One of our core priorities is inclusivity. Given the size of Uttar Pradesh, with a population of nearly 24 crore, it is essential that the benefits of AI and digital growth reach beyond a few urban centres. We are working on multiple initiatives to make AI more accessible and inclusive across the state.

At the foundational level, we have launched an AI-focused capacity-building programme aimed at training over one million people across different segments of society. This is about demystifying AI and addressing skepticism by demonstrating that AI can be used responsibly and inclusively.

At a more advanced level, we are integrating AI into polytechnics and ITIs, where traditional skills can be augmented with AI-driven applications such as additive manufacturing and intelligent systems. We are establishing AI labs in more than 60 locations and leveraging around 80 incubators across the state to support innovation and entrepreneurship.

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How does the hub-and-spoke model work in Uttar Pradesh’s AI ecosystem development?

Our model is designed to optimise reach and impact. At the core, we have Centres of Excellence that serve as hubs for advanced research, development, and innovation. These hubs are supported by a network of incubators and smaller AI labs distributed across tier-two and tier-three cities.

This hub-and-spoke structure ensures that talent from smaller cities and towns has access to infrastructure, mentorship, and global opportunities. At the same time, it allows us to address local challenges using AI solutions developed closer to the ground. Integration across this network is key, and that is where coordinated policy and institutional support play a crucial role.

Cities like Lucknow and Noida are emerging as IT hubs. How is the state extending this momentum to other regions?

Noida is already an established IT destination, and Lucknow has emerged strongly with the development of IT City and the growing presence of multinational companies. We are now building on this momentum by conceptualising Lucknow as an AI-focused city, where innovation, deployment, and talent development converge.

Beyond these cities, our focus is on tier-two and tier-three locations such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur. By leveraging institutions like STPI, NITs, state universities, and our own incubation infrastructure, we aim to ensure that AI and IT-enabled opportunities reach all corners of the state. The goal is to enable youth in smaller cities to work on global platforms while solving local problems.

What were the key takeaways for the government from the AI and Health Innovation Conference?

There were several important takeaways. First, the conference created strong opportunities for collaboration with national and global experts. The MoUs signed and the interactions with institutions such as WHO and other international organisations have helped cement relationships that we intend to carry forward.

Second, the conference helped us firm up our roadmap for using AI for public good. While agriculture and education are already key focus areas, healthcare has now emerged as the next major sector for AI deployment in Uttar Pradesh.

Third, the response from healthcare professionals was extremely encouraging. Their eagerness to adopt AI-driven solutions and their recognition of its potential gives us confidence that implementation on the ground will be effective and impactful.

How do you view the role of platforms like Elets Technomedia in advancing India’s IT and AI ecosystem?

While I say this with due caution, given the association, I must acknowledge the unique role that platforms like Elets Technomedia play. Traditionally, IT was perceived as a domain confined to labs and isolated workspaces, with limited human interaction.

What Elets has done effectively is create spaces for meaningful human networking around technology.

By bringing together policymakers, practitioners, industry leaders, and global experts, Elets has helped transform technology discussions into collaborative, action-oriented engagements. My experience with Elets conferences has consistently been positive, particularly in terms of the exposure and partnerships that emerge. These interactions directly contribute to scale and speed in policy implementation and innovation. I appreciate the continued efforts and look forward to further collaboration.

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Finally, what is your message on Uttar Pradesh’s future as an AI and IT powerhouse?

Uttar Pradesh is at a critical inflection point. We have the talent, the institutional capacity, the policy intent, and now the financial commitment to build a robust AI and IT ecosystem. Our focus is on responsible, inclusive, and scalable adoption of AI that benefits citizens, strengthens governance, and drives economic growth.

By combining infrastructure development, capacity building, innovation support, and cross-sector collaboration, we are confident that Uttar Pradesh will emerge as one of the leading states in India’s AI-driven transformation journey.

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