Mussoorie, Oct. 18 -- India is making world-class computing power available at less than a dollar an hour, enabling research, innovation, and social impact, said Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Commerce & Industry, here on Friday. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025, held here as a prelude to the India - AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi on February 19-20 next year. "What nuclear technology was to the last century, AI is to this one. But this time, India is ensuring the opportunity belongs to everyone. From managing the Kumbh with AI to transforming governance and education, Bharat is showing that what was once unimaginable is now possible. This is the New Bharat-confident, capable, and leading the world in using technology for impact," Prasada said. The MoS said that the ultimate goal of leveraging AI and digital technologies is to enhance the 'Ease of Living' for citizens by making government services more accessible, efficient, and available at home, eliminating the need to visit multiple offices. "Shed the old ways, structures, and mindset," he urged policymakers, highlighting that governance must evolve to meet modern expectations. Prasada also stressed the role of students and youth in driving innovation, referring to the three pillars of the upcoming AI Summit- People, Planet, and Progress. He advised that AI should serve as a tool to assist human goals, not replace human curiosity and effort. He further highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on 'Ease of Doing Business', calling on Uttarakhand officials to simplify compliance requirements and remove outdated laws to ease entr- epreneurship and business growth. Speaking at the event, Nitesh Kumar Jha, secretary Information Technology Uttarakhand, said, "We are not just using AI; we aim to create AI. We have established a Centre of Excellence and the first Drone Applications Centre, integrating AI with drone technology. Our efforts were recognised nationally this year by the Prime Minister." The pre-summit brought together many premier institutions including IIT Roorkee, IIM Kashipur, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. AI-led startups presented practical applications of AI in governance, entrepreneurship, and social impact. A panel discussion, moderated by Vivek Agrawal, Country Director, Tony Blair Institute, focused on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among youth, and emphasized collaboration between academia, startups, and policymakers to ensure responsible AI adoption. Officials said the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 has set the stage for the India - AI Impact Summit 2026, which will be the first global AI forum hosted in the Global South. Anchored in India's vision of "AI for All," the summit aims to harness AI for social inclusion, innovation, and improved public service delivery, reinforcing India's position as a global advocate for equitable, sustainable, and people-centric AI development. Hosted by MeitY, the summit on February 19-20, 2026, in New Delhi will showcase AI's transformative role in inclusive development, sustainability, and equitable progress. The event will focus on three guiding principles. First, People: ensuring AI serves humanity inclusively, respecting cultural identities and human dignity. Second, Planet: promoting resource-efficient AI while accelerating climate resilience and sustainability. Third, Progress: democratising access to AI tools, data, and models, and applying AI in sectors such as healthcare, education, governance, and agriculture....