The 3rd National Digital Innovation Summit 2026, jointly organised by the Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Elets Technomedia, was held today at The Centrum, Lucknow. The two-day summit brought together senior policymakers, government leaders, technology experts, industry innovators, academia, and startups to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, digital governance, cybersecurity, electronics manufacturing, skilling, and emerging technologies.
Held under the theme “Powering Innovation, Infrastructure & AI in Uttar Pradesh,” the summit served as a collaborative platform to showcase the state’s growing AI ecosystem, progressive policy framework, and expanding digital infrastructure, while strengthening partnerships between government and industry to accelerate technology-driven governance and economic growth.
Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Ravi Gupta, Founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Elets Technomedia, said artificial intelligence is emerging as a key driver of governance transformation and public service delivery.
“AI-powered governance begins with collaboration across the public sector ecosystem. As India accelerates its AI journey, stronger partnerships between government, industry, academia, and startups will be essential to build responsible, secure, and citizen-centric digital solutions,” he said.
In his keynote address, Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of IT & Electronics and Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh, outlined the state’s vision of positioning Uttar Pradesh as a leading hub for AI and digital innovation.
“Uttar Pradesh is building an AI ecosystem that connects policy, innovation, and governance. Through the State AI Mission, AI Stack, AI City, DeepTech hubs, and expanding digital infrastructure, the state is enabling responsible AI adoption while creating new opportunities for investment, innovation, and employment,” he said.
In the special address, Rajeev Krishna, Director General of Police and Head of Police Force (HoPF), Government of Uttar Pradesh, highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in modern policing and public safety.
“AI is transforming policing from reactive response to intelligent, proactive public safety. Technologies such as AI-powered crime analysis, real-time intelligence and smarter investigations are helping law enforcement improve efficiency and citizen services.”
A key highlight of the inaugural session was the launch of the eGov special issue titled “Uttar Pradesh: Shaping the Future Through AI & Digital Innovation.” The publication highlights the state’s progress in artificial intelligence, digital governance, electronics manufacturing, data centres, startup innovation, AI City, and emerging technologies, reflecting Uttar Pradesh’s vision of becoming a global technology destination.
The inaugural session, themed “Uttar Pradesh – India’s AI & Digital Innovation Powerhouse,” focused on the state’s roadmap for AI-led governance, digital public infrastructure, AI City, digital economy growth, and investment opportunities. Government leaders and technology experts highlighted the importance of responsible AI adoption, collaborative innovation, and future-ready governance in driving Uttar Pradesh’s digital transformation.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, Government of India, said Uttar Pradesh is well-positioned to emerge as one of India’s leading centres for advanced technologies.
“Uttar Pradesh is laying the foundation for India’s next generation of technology-led growth. Strong policy support, world-class digital public infrastructure, and a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem are enabling the state to lead in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing,” he said.
In his special address, Dr. Hari Om, Principal Secretary, Vocational Education and Skill Development Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, underscored the need to build a future-ready workforce to support the state’s digital ambitions.
“The future of AI-driven governance depends on building a future-ready workforce where skills, industry, and institutions move forward together. Stronger collaboration between government, academia, and industry will be critical to preparing talent for emerging technologies and the jobs of tomorrow,” he said.
Industry Presentations Showcase AI, Digital Sovereignty & Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure
The summit featured a series of industry presentations where leading technology companies showcased innovations and best practices in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and citizen-centric governance.
Delivering a presentation on “Digital Sovereignty in the AI Era: Securing Government Innovation with Trust and Control,” Sriram Raghavan, General Manager, IBM Software India & South Asia, emphasised that trusted AI begins with digital sovereignty.
“As governments rapidly adopt AI, digital sovereignty has become a strategic necessity. Securing data, AI models, technology platforms, and operations will enable governments to build trusted, resilient, and transparent digital ecosystems capable of supporting next-generation public services,” he said.
Speaking on “AI Centre of Excellence: Transforming the Work Economy,” Swastik Chakraborty, Vice President – Technology, Netweb Technologies India Ltd, highlighted AI’s growing role in transforming industries and governance.
“The AI revolution is being driven by value, not just technology. The real opportunity lies in using AI to improve productivity, enhance decision-making, and create meaningful outcomes for governments, businesses, and citizens,” he said.
Presenting on “AI-Enabled Census: Transforming India’s Population Intelligence,” Ramachandran R, Director, Directorate of Census Operations & Citizen Registration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, discussed the future of AI-powered population data systems.
“AI has the potential to transform India’s Census from a periodic exercise into a real-time intelligence system. Integrating AI with digital platforms will enable more accurate data, evidence-based policymaking, and smarter governance,” he said.
Kaushal Sharma, Public Policy Lead – India, Sarvam AI, delivered a presentation on “Sovereign AI for Bharat,” highlighting the need to develop indigenous AI models and language technologies tailored to India’s governance and public service requirements.
Speaking on “The AI-Powered Future of Smart Governance,” Pankaj Kumar, Director – Public Sector, Cisco India & SAARC, highlighted how secure networking, intelligent infrastructure, and AI-driven connectivity are enabling governments to deliver smarter, faster, and more resilient public services.
The summit also featured technology presentations by Trellix, Fortinet, Airtel Business, Arcadis, and Oasys Cybernetics, showcasing solutions in cybersecurity, secure digital infrastructure, cloud technologies, smart urban development, digital resilience, and AI-enabled public service delivery.
Panel Discussions Explore AI, Cybersecurity and Future-Ready Governance
A major highlight of the summit was a series of thematic panel discussions that brought together senior government officials, policymakers, industry leaders and technology experts to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges shaping Uttar Pradesh’s digital future.
The discussions covered a wide range of strategic themes, including:
- AI in Governance & Citizen Services: Building Intelligent Public Administration
- Building Secure Digital Infrastructure: Cybersecurity, Cloud & Digital Trust
- Electronics Manufacturing, AI Infrastructure & Data Centre Ecosystem
- Empowering AI Infrastructure, Talent, Employability & Startups for a Future-Ready Uttar Pradesh
The sessions explored how Artificial Intelligence, digital public infrastructure, trusted cybersecurity frameworks, advanced manufacturing, startup innovation and industry-led skilling can together accelerate Uttar Pradesh’s journey towards becoming a global technology and innovation hub.
Industry Expo Showcases Next-Generation Digital Solutions
Running alongside the summit, the Industry Expo featured leading technology companies showcasing cutting-edge solutions in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centres, networking, digital governance and smart infrastructure. The exhibition provided delegates with an opportunity to explore innovative technologies, interact with solution providers and discover emerging digital solutions driving the future of governance and public service delivery.
Summit Reaffirms Uttar Pradesh’s Commitment to an AI-Driven Future
The first day of the 3rd National Digital Innovation Summit 2026 successfully brought together key stakeholders from government, industry and academia to deliberate on the future of AI, digital governance and innovation. The summit highlighted the importance of collaboration, responsible technology adoption and policy-driven innovation in creating sustainable digital ecosystems and delivering better public services.
The programme will continue on July 18 with a specially curated visit to Ayodhya, enabling the speakers to explore the city’s cultural significance and ongoing development initiatives. The experience will reflect Uttar Pradesh’s broader vision of fostering technological excellence while preserving and celebrating its rich civilisational heritage.
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