UP CM Yogi Adityanath clarifies ₹25,000-cr Puch AI MoU is 'preliminary' & 'non-binding'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath clarifies that the ₹25,000-crore Memorandum of Understanding with Bengaluru startup Puch AI is a non-binding, preliminary agreement. Following intense social media scrutiny over the startup's credentials, the Chief Minister emphasizes that any further progress depends on a rigorous due diligence process.Invest UP CEO Vijay Kiran Anand confirms the state government has issued a strict three-day deadline for the firm to submit technical and financial evaluations. Critics and industry experts highlight that Puch AI, founded in June 2025, lacks verifiable foundational models despite the founder’s high-profile meetings with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal. While the startup disputes reported revenue figures of ₹42.9 lakh, the future of India’s first "AI City" near Lucknow airport now hinges on this 72-hour vetting result.