Lucknow: Over 50 IAS officers and senior administrators from across India participated in the AI Transformation Conclave 2026 held in Lucknow on Friday. The event featured a high-level capacity-building workshop titled “The AI-Powered Public Administrator: Competencies for a New Era of Governance.”
Key Session on AI in Governance
The session was chaired by Subi Chaturvedi, founder of NIHIT and Sherpa of Working Group 7 of the India-US CEO Forum. Addressing the gathering, Chaturvedi stated that Uttar Pradesh, particularly Lucknow, is emerging as one of the most promising centers for AI innovation in India. She highlighted that the expansion of deep-tech operations by companies such as InMobi is helping create a strong ecosystem of governance, research, talent, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship in the state.
Emphasis on Ethical AI
Chaturvedi stressed the importance of ethical, accountable, accessible, and human-centric AI. She emphasized that inclusive growth and a trustworthy technological future can only be achieved through secure and people-friendly AI systems.
UP Government’s AI Initiatives
The conclave focused on the Uttar Pradesh government’s ambitious AI policy and technology vision. Recently, the state approved India’s first AI City project in Lucknow’s Vrindavan Yojana area at an estimated cost of Rs 368 crore. Additionally, a dedicated allocation of Rs 225 crore has been earmarked for the UP AI Mission.
CEO of the State Transformation Commission, Manoj Kumar Singh, said Uttar Pradesh is steadily moving towards becoming a national model for AI-driven governance. He added that AI-led reforms would significantly contribute to the state’s target of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.
Infrastructure Commitments
Principal Secretary of the IT and Electronics Department, Alok Kumar, stated that the government is fully committed to building robust infrastructure for emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and deep-tech innovation. He noted that the latest state budget includes special provisions for the UP AI Mission, AI City, and other emerging technology initiatives.
Discussion Themes
Discussions during the conclave covered a wide range of themes, including AI ecosystems, cybersecurity, digital governance, MSMEs, startups, and the role of AI in citizen-centric services.
