India must transform into the world's artificial intelligence service provider rather than remaining a consumer nation. Abhishek Singh, director general of the National Informatics Centre and CEO of the India AI Mission, made this strong statement. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's massive scale as a perfect testing ground for AI solutions that could later deploy across India.
Uttar Pradesh: The AI Laboratory for India
Singh spoke exclusively during a regional AI summit in Lucknow. He explained India's comprehensive approach to artificial intelligence. The government plans to host the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly directed that India's AI strategy must incorporate inputs from all regions, not just metropolitan cities.
"That is precisely why we are organizing regional AI Impact Summits in every state," Singh stated. "Large states like Uttar Pradesh receive special attention. Uttar Pradesh functions almost like a laboratory. Any AI solution that successfully develops, deploys and scales here can work anywhere in India and globally."
Insights gathered from these regional summits will directly feed into the national summit scheduled for Delhi. This ensures a truly representative AI roadmap for the country.
Substantial State Investment in AI
Uttar Pradesh recently announced its state AI Mission with an allocation of approximately Rs 2,000 crore over three years. Singh called this decision forward-looking and crucial.
"While global generative AI tools receive much attention, India through the India AI Mission is building its own foundation models and India-specific solutions," he explained. "The real challenge begins after development - deployment at scale. For AI to reach farmers, students, rural citizens and patients, state-level investment becomes essential. Uttar Pradesh's commitment will play a crucial role in democratizing AI and taking it to the grassroots."
Healthcare: Immediate AI Impact Sector
Singh identified healthcare as one area where artificial intelligence can deliver immediate and large-scale societal impact. Summit discussions covered multiple applications:
- AI in disease diagnosis and early screening
- Voice-enabled healthcare services
- Extending care to underserved populations
- Drug discovery and medical research
"Collaborating with a state like Uttar Pradesh allows these solutions to test under real-world conditions," Singh noted. "The learnings from this summit will strongly shape the healthcare track at the national AI Impact Summit."
Ethical Framework for Responsible AI
The government recognizes AI as a dual-use technology with potential for both good and misuse. Singh emphasized that responsible AI remains fundamental to India's approach.
"India has established governance guidelines, legal frameworks and regulatory guardrails," he said. "Wherever harmful or unethical use occurs, including creation of obscene or dangerous content, authorities take strict action. We encourage innovation but maintain strong safeguards to protect citizens."
Developing India's AI Talent Pool
India's youth represent enormous potential in the artificial intelligence domain. The AI and data economy will create numerous jobs in coming years, with those possessing AI skills holding clear advantages.
"On January 8, we launched a 4.5-hour foundational AI course available in all Indian languages for youth across the country," Singh revealed. "On National Youth Day, we encourage maximum participation so young Indians acquire baseline AI skills for future opportunities."
Lucknow's Transformation into an AI City
With Lucknow announced as an AI city, the India AI Mission will provide comprehensive support. This includes access to computing resources, datasets, AI models and practical use cases.
"AI-based traffic management systems using real-time data are already developing in Delhi," Singh mentioned. "Similar solutions can deploy in Lucknow for traffic management. We can also help upgrade municipal services, positioning Lucknow as a role model for other cities."
India's Inclusive AI Vision
Singh concluded with thoughts on India's broader AI journey. The country's vision builds on scale, inclusion and real-world impact.
"Artificial intelligence should not remain limited to a few countries, cities or companies," he asserted. "It must reach every state, every sector and every citizen. Uttar Pradesh, with its ambition and scale, has a pivotal role to play in this transformative journey."
The regional AI summit in Lucknow represents just one step in India's determined push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence services and solutions.
