Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, announced that the state government is actively developing plans to establish India's first dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) City in Lucknow, alongside a broader AI ecosystem in the district. The declaration came as Adityanath addressed the 10th anniversary celebration of HCL Tech in Lucknow, urging young technology professionals to participate in the initiative.

The AI City Vision

Chief Minister Adityanath stated that under Uttar Pradesh's new startup policy, Noida and Lucknow have been designated as Deep Tech hubs, with work already progressing. The centrepiece of this ambition is an AI City in Lucknow — a first-of-its-kind project in the country. 'We are also working rapidly on plans to establish the country's first AI City in Lucknow and to foster an AI ecosystem,' Adityanath said at the event.

He extended a specific offer to HCL Tech as part of this vision, setting a target of nurturing at least 50 world-class AI startups in Lucknow and supporting them in reaching global markets. The Chief Minister described the state as 'ready and committed to providing full support for building a robust innovation ecosystem.'

UP's Expanding IT Footprint

Adityanath highlighted that Uttar Pradesh's information technology ambitions have moved well beyond the National Capital Region. He noted that IT parks are now operational in Kanpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, and Agra, while new parks are under construction in Varanasi, Bareilly, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur. He added that seven Software Technology Parks are currently functional across the state, and Gautam Buddha Nagar is home to 12 IT and ITES Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

'IT is no longer confined to the National Capital Region. It has reached Eastern Uttar Pradesh and is expanding into the Bundelkhand region as well,' the Chief Minister said. This expansion reflects a broader strategy to make Lucknow a credible alternative to established tech corridors such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

HCL Tech's Decade in Lucknow

The occasion — HCL Tech's 10th anniversary in Lucknow — gave Adityanath a platform to showcase the partnership between government policy and private enterprise. He credited HCL Tech with extending its programmes to more than 50 lakh people and over 3,000 villages across Uttar Pradesh over the past decade, including work with village women, self-help groups, and residential schools in districts like Sitapur and Bulandshahr.

'This serves as an example of how the benefits of technology and development can reach even the person at the very last rung of society,' Adityanath said, adding that development can no longer be measured merely by large campuses in big cities.

Digital India Narrative and Workforce Strength

The Chief Minister invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' vision, recalling that critics once dismissed the initiative as unrealistic. He cited the Jan Dhan account scheme as a parallel — initially ridiculed as 'empty accounts for the poor' — which, according to Adityanath, has since enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to reach intended beneficiaries without intermediaries siphoning funds.

'Now, no one in between can skim off any cut money. This is the marvel of technology; the marvel of Digital India,' he said, framing technology adoption as central to both economic inclusion and governance reform.

Adityanath also emphasised the state's demographic dividend: 'Alongside our precious land, we possess the youngest workforce. The talent of this young workforce is also our greatest strength.' He urged skilled young professionals to join the AI City initiative and help position Lucknow as one of India's leading innovation cities.

What Comes Next

Specific timelines and investment figures for the AI City project have not been disclosed yet. The announcement signals a policy intent rather than a finalised blueprint, and industry observers will be watching for detailed project guidelines, land allocation announcements, and private sector commitments. With HCL Tech already engaged in discussions, the pace of further announcements is expected to pick up in the coming months.