Uttarakhand Hosts AI Impact Summit Ahead of India–AI 2026

In a key moment for India’s tech leadership, the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 was held on October 17 in Dehradun, marking a crucial pre-summit event ahead of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026. The summit, organized by the Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY, showcased India’s push toward responsible and inclusive growth in Artificial Intelligence.

Key Themes: Responsible and Inclusive AI

The event focused on positioning AI as a force for public good, touching upon its applications in,

• Governance: Using AI for managing massive events like the Kumbh Mela
• Education: Personalized and accessible learning platforms
• Healthcare and disaster management
• Rural empowerment through AI-backed agricultural and financial tools

The summit highlighted India’s intention to lead globally in ethical AI adoption—ensuring technology is used to bridge divides rather than deepen them.

High-Level Participation

The event was attended by several key officials and thought leaders, including,

• Shri Nitesh Kumar Jha, Secretary, IT, Uttarakhand
• Shri Mohammed Y. Safirulla, Director, IndiaAI Mission
• Dr. Durgesh Pant, Director General, UCOST
• Prof. Ram Sharma, VC, UPES Dehradun
• Smt. Sharmishta Das, Head of AI Division, NIC HQ

Their insights emphasized India’s multi-stakeholder approach—bridging government, academia, startups, and civil society.

Towards India–AI Impact Summit 2026

• The Uttarakhand summit serves as a launchpad for the larger India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19–20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• The national summit aims to bring global AI leaders to India, showcase India’s AI capabilities, and shape international discourse on ethical and impactful AI deployment.