15-09-2026: Governor participated in the international summit on “AI for Democracy” organised at Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar.
Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note
Global Deliberation on Democracy in the Age of AI: Experts from India and Abroad Converge at Dev Sanskriti University
“Youth must learn to embrace technology” — Governor
“India’s knowledge tradition has always viewed technological advancement through the lens of human welfare” — Dr. Chinmay Pandya
“The benefits of AI must reach every section of society” — Dex Hunter-Torricke
AI-powered magazine and several books released at the Summit
Lok Bhavan Dehradun/Haridwar 15 September, 2026
Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), today participated in the international summit on “AI for Democracy” organised at Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer merely a technology of the future but has already emerged as a transformative force shaping the present. He emphasised that AI must be harnessed to serve public interest, strengthen good governance and deepen democracy. It is essential to ensure that the benefits of AI reach the last person in society.
The Governor said that AI has the potential to play a significant role in improving education, healthcare, agriculture, administration and public services. It can help take information about government schemes to remote areas and enable citizens to access information about public services in their own languages. At the same time, he stressed that transparency, truth and accountability must remain integral to technological advancement. Any form of bias in AI systems could further deepen inequalities in society.
He further said that human responsibility must remain paramount in matters concerning citizens’ rights. AI can assist in decision-making, but it cannot replace human judgement and accountability. Its application in the justice system, too, should remain supportive rather than substitutive. The Governor observed that India’s knowledge tradition teaches us that the ultimate purpose of knowledge must be lok kalyan — the welfare of society.
Calling upon the youth, the Governor said that while they must learn technology and embrace innovation, they should also ask not only “What can be done?” but equally “What should be done?” Technology must be guided by wisdom and a sense of responsibility.
The Governor said that AI should become a force that connects humanity rather than divides it. Wisdom with knowledge, ethics with technology, and responsibility with innovation, he said, must form the foundation for the responsible and beneficial use of AI. He congratulated the organisers, experts and participants for successfully convening the summit.
Presiding over the summit, Vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti University Dr. Chinmay Pandya said that India’s knowledge tradition has always viewed technological advancement in the context of human welfare. AI, he said, must not be seen as a replacement for human intelligence but as a means of expanding and enhancing human capabilities.
Dex Hunter-Torricke, Founding President of the Centre for Tomorrow, London, said that the benefits of AI must reach every section of society. Alongside technological advancement, it is equally important to address the social and economic challenges associated with its adoption.
On the occasion, the Governor felicitated the winners of various competitions organised on the theme of AI for Democracy.
The summit was attended by Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik; Ms. Anda Filip, Secretary General, IPU Geneva; Professor Ibrahim Salama, Dean, The British University in Egypt; Dex Hunter-Torricke, Founding President, Centre for Tomorrow and an expert on AI and public policy; Harry Fisher, Head of Tech Policy, British High Commission, New Delhi; Dr. Vijay Dhasmana, Chancellor, Swami Rama Himalayan University; Manu Gaud, and several other experts and distinguished participants from India and abroad.
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