Chandigarh University (CU) has announced establishment of the first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) enabled next-gen futuristic campus at Unnao in Lucknow State Capital Region (SCR). 

The university will provide AI-augmented multidisciplinary education tailored to the evolving needs of 21st century learners. The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier issued an authorisation letter to Chandigarh University for its AI-integrated campus at Unnao in Lucknow SCR. 

Making the above announcement here, Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay on Monday also launched the Chandigarh University Lucknow web portal and prospectus for 2025-26 academic session. Upadhyay said under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh had become a key growth engine for the nation’s development.

“Uttar Pradesh is on track to become a USD 1 trillion economy within the next five years as the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to reach Rs 32 lakh crore by March 2025, positioning it as the fastest growing economy in India and creating employment opportunities for 1.5 crore youth. In the past seven years, the state’s economy, GDP and per capita income have more than doubled due to the double engine government,” he said. 

Upadhyay said Uttar Pradesh was becoming an educational hub in higher education with the establishment of 16 new universities and over 250 colleges in underserved regions over the past seven years under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership.

“It is a proud moment for us that Chandigarh University has established its AI enabled campus in Uttar Pradesh. The timing of launching an AI-integrated university in Uttar Pradesh could not be more ideal as the state government is already establishing India’s first AI City in an area of over 70 acres in Lucknow. While the state government has allocated Rs 500 crore for computing infrastructure, including 10,000 GPUs and an AI centre in Lucknow, the first phase of the AI City project has already attracted preliminary commitments of Rs 2,500 crore from private technology companies and venture capital firms,” the minister said.

He added, “Funding for local startups in the AI and deep-tech space has increased by a massive 40 per cent over the past 18 months which shows investor confidence in AI. A global player in the data centre industry, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers (STT GDC) India, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Uttar Pradesh government to develop India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) City in Lucknow. As a hub for the AI ecosystem, AI City in Lucknow will open doors to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs for youth in AI over the next five years.”

Upadhyay pointed out that Chandigarh University’s AI integrated campus perfectly aligns with the UP government’s ambitions for AI-driven growth by preparing the skilled manpower.

“The arrival of a world-class education provider like Chandigarh University means that students in Uttar Pradesh can now access quality learning without having to leave their home state, making education more accessible and affordable for all,” he added.

Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “As Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognises the transformative power of AI, India was one of the first countries to develop a comprehensive strategy through the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. India has shown its commitment to work on this vision by becoming the first country to establish a dedicated India AI Mission, which is first of its kind in the world with a budget outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore, to accelerate the adoption and integration of AI technologies across the country for innovation, economic growth and job creation in the digital age.”

The Rajya Sabha member said India, as the fastest-growing economy with the second-largest population in the world, had a crucial stake in the ongoing AI revolution and Uttar Pradesh had taken a big step in this direction by establishing India’s first AI City in Lucknow.

“Uttar Pradesh has been playing a key role in making Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign a success and contributing to the nation’s goal of achieving a $5 trillion economy for becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. With tremendous growth in various sectors, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the next growth engine for India,” the MP added.