In a major step towards strengthening the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh, the Digital India Corporation’s Independent Business Division, IndiaAI Mission, has exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation (UPDESCO), Lucknow. The initiative is being implemented under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.The MoU was exchanged between Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary, IT & Electronics Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Abhishek Singh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiaAI Mission, marking a significant milestone in collaborative efforts between the State Government and the Government of India to advance AI-driven skilling and innovation.Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary, IT & Electronics Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said the initiative under the IndiaAI Mission would help equip the State’s youth with future-ready digital skills. He emphasised that the Uttar Pradesh government is actively leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to promote skill development, foster innovation and generate new employment opportunities.Neha Jain, Managing Director, UPDESCO, said that for effective implementation of the IndiaAI Mission in Uttar Pradesh, the Department of IT & Electronics has been designated as the nodal administrative department, while UPDESCO has been appointed as the State Nodal Agency.Under the IndiaAI Mission, 65 Data and AI Labs are planned across Uttar Pradesh. Two IndiaAI Data and AI Labs at NIELIT centres in Lucknow and Gorakhpur are already operational, while one lab has been established by an industry partner in Pilibhit. The State Government has approved 49 additional labs, where implementation has begun, and 13 more locations will be identified in due course.The IndiaAI Data Labs will feature AI-ready infrastructure, including computing resources, software platforms, curated datasets and specialised learning modules. The programme will provide hands-on, project-based training using real-world use cases, while also emphasising ethical AI practices, career readiness and workforce preparedness. The initiative aims to bridge the AI skills gap, enhance employability and position Uttar Pradesh as a leading hub for AI-driven innovation under the broader Digital India vision.