ARISE Punjab 2026 organized by CGC Landran and Startup Punjab champions AI-driven solutions for Viksit Bharat 2047
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 18, 2026:CGC Landran, through the ACIC RISE Association, in collaboration with Startup Punjab (Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab), successfully organized ARISE Punjab 2026, a two-day summit focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address critical challenges in high-impact sectors and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Held as a regional precursor to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 and coinciding with National Startup Day, the event provided a platform for policy dialogue, innovation showcase, and collaboration to strengthen Punjab’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
A major attraction of the summit was the Innovation Challenge, where 40 teams pitched scalable business models and showcased solutions addressing issues such as paddy straw burning, sustainable agriculture, manufacturing efficiency, and enhancing market visibility for ‘Punjab Made’ products.
The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Vijay Kumar Wakchaure, CEO, VIT Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Pune, along with Guests of Honour Lt. Col. Aman Singh, Sena Medal (Gallantry) and Tarun Malhotra, Founder & CEO, Cyber Splunk. They were welcomed by Dr. Rajdeep Singh, Campus Director, CGC Landran; Prof. (Dr.) Neha Sharma, Dean Research (RISE); and Dr. Amresh Kumar Panjla, CEO, ACIC RISE Association.
In his keynote address, Lt. Col. Aman Singh highlighted the strategic role of AI in defence and governance and underscored the importance of institutions in preparing youth for an AI-driven future. These themes were further explored in a panel discussion on ‘AI Inclusivity for Nation Building: Transition towards Viksit Bharat @2047’.
The second day marked National Startup Day and the 10th anniversary of the Startup India initiative, with Dr. Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director, PSCST, as Chief Guest. She highlighted initiatives such as the GRIP Scheme and SHE Program, emphasizing research-led innovation and commercialization.
During the Startup Manthan session, Dr. Divneet Kaur, Founder & CEO, Dermabay Skincare, and Bharti Sood, Senior Regional Director, PHDCCI, shared insights on nurturing entrepreneurship and industry mentorship.
Thanking Startup Punjab for its support, Dr. Rajdeep Singh reaffirmed CGC Landran’s commitment to Responsible AI, inclusive innovation, and nation building. He noted that the ACIC RISE Association, supported by NITI Aayog, has incubated over 125 startups, playing a key role in transforming young innovators into job creators and strengthening Punjab’s startup ecosystem.