MahaAI Building Safe Secure & Smart Governance

20 Feb 2026 15:00h - 16:00h

Session at a glance

Summary

This discussion centered on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in governance, particularly focusing on Maharashtra’s initiatives in building safe, secure, and smart governance systems. The conversation took place at the AI Impact Summit 2026, featuring government officials, technology experts, and industry leaders discussing AI’s implementation in public services and policy-making.

Mr. Virendra Singh opened by emphasizing that the key question is not whether AI will shape governance, but whether governance will effectively shape AI development. He highlighted the governance paradox of balancing regulation with innovation, advocating for intelligent governance based on human-centered design, transparency, and global cooperation. Maharashtra’s IT Minister Ashish Shelar showcased the state’s position as a living laboratory for AI governance, citing examples like the AI-powered Maha Crime OS and intelligent government infrastructure through their state digital agency, Mahaiti.

The panel discussion revealed practical AI applications across various sectors. Praveen Pardeshi from Mitra discussed energy infrastructure development, capacity building initiatives, and the creation of Maha GPT for government order management. Yashasvi Yadav highlighted cybersecurity achievements, including preventing over 1000 crores in fraud and saving 70 lives from cyberbullying through AI-powered crime prevention systems. He also warned about emerging quantum computing threats that could compromise current encryption systems.

Technical experts addressed implementation challenges and opportunities. Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay discussed the intersection of quantum computing and AI, while Suresh Sethi explained how AI can enhance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) by enabling predictive governance and reducing inclusion and exclusion errors in benefit distribution. Industry representative Ranjeet Goswami from TCS emphasized the need for holistic approaches that treat citizens as unified entities across government departments rather than departmental silos.

Ethical considerations were prominently featured, with Beena Sarkar raising concerns about gender bias and safety issues in AI deployment, particularly regarding devices like smart glasses that could threaten vulnerable populations. Dr. Amit Kapoor provided a reality check on infrastructure limitations, noting that 80% of Maharashtra’s workforce operates at basic skill levels and highlighting inadequate internet connectivity in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. He also raised concerns about AI’s potential to create societal dependency and the need for proper education systems to prevent the “dumbing down” effect of technology. The discussion concluded with recognition that while Maharashtra has significant potential as India’s growth engine, successful AI implementation requires addressing fundamental infrastructure, education, and ethical challenges to ensure inclusive and responsible technological advancement.

Keypoints

Major Discussion Points:

– AI Governance Framework and Global Cooperation: The discussion emphasized the need for intelligent governance that balances innovation with regulation, requiring human-centered design, transparency, accountability, and international cooperation. Speakers stressed that AI governance must evolve dynamically rather than rely on static policies.

– Practical AI Implementation in Maharashtra: Multiple speakers showcased concrete AI applications in Maharashtra, including the Mahak Crime OS for law enforcement, AI-powered government order management (Maha GPT), cyber security initiatives that saved over 1000 crores and prevented suicides, and intelligent government infrastructure through Mahaiti.

– Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats: Significant focus on AI’s role in combating cybercrime, with examples of preventing fraud and protecting citizens. The discussion also highlighted future challenges from quantum computing, which could potentially break current encryption systems and requires proactive preparation.

– Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI Integration: Exploration of how AI can enhance India’s population-scale digital infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) to enable predictive governance, reduce inclusion/exclusion errors in benefit distribution, and move from static identity verification to dynamic eligibility assessment.

– Ethical AI and Inclusive Development: Concerns about AI bias, particularly gender-related issues, the need for ethical frameworks, and challenges in extending AI benefits to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including infrastructure limitations, education gaps, and the risk of AI contributing to societal “dumbing down.”

Overall Purpose:

The discussion aimed to explore how AI can be implemented safely and effectively in governance, particularly focusing on Maharashtra’s initiatives as a model for responsible AI adoption. The goal was to address both opportunities and challenges in building “safe, secure, and smart governance” while ensuring inclusive and ethical AI deployment.

Overall Tone:

The discussion maintained a consistently optimistic yet cautious tone throughout. Speakers were enthusiastic about AI’s transformative potential and proud of Maharashtra’s achievements, but also realistic about challenges and risks. The tone remained professional and collaborative, with participants building on each other’s points rather than debating. There was a notable balance between celebrating successes and acknowledging serious concerns about ethics, security, and inclusive development.

Speakers

Speakers from the provided list:

– Mr. Virendra Singh – Role/Title: Not specified, Area of expertise: AI governance and policy

– Mr. Ashish Shelar – Role/Title: Honorable Minister of IT and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, Area of expertise: Technology-driven governance

– Moderator – Role/Title: Event moderator, Area of expertise: Not specified

– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi – Role/Title: Associated with Mitra, Area of expertise: AI implementation in government, energy policy, data governance

– Mr. Yashasvi Yadav – Role/Title: Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber Department, Government of Maharashtra, Area of expertise: Cyber security, law enforcement, AI in policing

– Mr. Devroop Dhar – Role/Title: Co-Founder and CEO, Primus Partners (Panel Moderator), Area of expertise: Business strategy and consulting

– Mr. Ranjeet Goswami – Role/Title: Head, Corporate Affairs, Tata Consultancy Services, Area of expertise: Corporate affairs, technology implementation

– Ms. Beena Sarkar – Role/Title: Customer Success Executive Service Now, Area of expertise: Ethical AI, women’s rights in technology

– Mr. Suresh Sethi – Role/Title: Managing Director and CEO, Protean EGov Technologies, Area of expertise: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital governance

– Dr. Amit Kapoor – Role/Title: Chair, Institute for Competitiveness, Area of expertise: Economic policy, competitiveness, workforce development

Additional speakers:

– Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay – Role/Title: Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Area of expertise: Quantum computing and AI intersection

– Major Ranjit Goswami – Role/Title: Head, Corporate Affairs, Tata Consultancy Services, Area of expertise: Technology solutions and governance (Note: This appears to be the same person as Mr. Ranjeet Goswami, possibly with military background)

– Aditi – Role/Title: Event coordinator/moderator, Area of expertise: Not specified

Full session report

This comprehensive discussion at the AI Impact Summit 2026 explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in governance, with particular focus on Maharashtra’s pioneering initiatives in building safe, secure, and smart governance systems. The summit, hosted at Bharat Mandapam under the banner “Maha AI,” brought together global AI leaders from industry and academia, representing the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.

Foundational Framework for AI Governance

Mr. Virendra Singh established the intellectual foundation by reframing the central question facing policymakers. Rather than asking whether AI will shape governance, he argued that the critical question is whether governance will effectively shape AI development. Singh identified what he termed the “governance paradox” – the delicate balance between regulating too slowly and risking societal harm, versus regulating too heavily and stifling innovation.

His solution advocated for “intelligent governance” built upon five core principles: human-centred design, transparency and accountability, risk-based regulations, global cooperation, and adaptive policies. Singh emphasised that AI’s borderless nature necessitates interoperable frameworks and cooperative oversight mechanisms. He stressed that governance frameworks must evolve dynamically alongside AI technology, as static policies cannot effectively manage dynamic intelligence systems.

Maharashtra’s Living Laboratory Approach

Maharashtra’s IT Minister, Ashish Shelar, positioned the state as a “living laboratory for AI in governance,” showcasing concrete implementations in public administration. Under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s leadership, Maharashtra has developed strategic partnerships with global technology leaders, resulting in innovative solutions like the AI-powered Mahak Crime OS, which has been showcased by Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.

The state’s digital agency, Mahaiti, is constructing intelligent government infrastructure – a cloud-native, modular, API-driven backbone that leverages AI to integrate services, predict citizen needs, and respond in real-time. This system encompasses smart recruitment processes, AI-based property mapping for urban local bodies, real-time urban dashboards monitoring traffic, weather, and civic issues, alongside pilot programmes in flood management and smart mobility solutions.

Shelar articulated the philosophy underlying these initiatives: using AI not to distance the state from citizens, but to make governance more human, responsive, and inclusive, aiming to “scale empathy through insight.”

Practical AI Implementation Across Government Functions

Praveen Pardeshi from MITRA provided detailed insights into practical challenges and opportunities of AI implementation in government operations. He identified three critical foundational elements: energy infrastructure, capacity building, and economic impact management. Addressing energy requirements, Pardeshi highlighted Maharashtra’s commitment to developing over 19,000 megawatts of solar capacity, recognising green energy as essential fuel for AI operations.

The capacity building initiative represents a comprehensive approach to preparing government staff for AI integration. MITRA has enrolled staff from multiple departments in AI university courses, with plans to expand access through online courses on the IGOT platform.

Pardeshi addressed AI’s economic disruption, presenting data from NITI Aayog analysis showing that from 1950 to 2020, highly educated individuals enjoyed 95% employment rates. However, since 2020, physical jobs such as masons and home carers have experienced increased value compared to highly educated positions, suggesting AI is fundamentally reshaping employment patterns.

Pardeshi also outlined Maharashtra’s approach to data monetisation through the state data authority, working to ensure valuable health and pharmaceutical data generates economic value for India. The development of MahaGPT, created in collaboration with Professor Ganesh from IIT Mumbai, represents another significant innovation – a small language model designed to navigate over 150,000 government orders, serving both government officers and citizens.

Cybersecurity and Law Enforcement Transformation

Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police for Maharashtra’s Cyber Department, provided evidence of AI’s transformative impact on law enforcement. The Maharashtra Cyber Security Project, launched under Chief Minister Fadnavis’s leadership five years ago, integrates AI tools in real crime fighting, bringing together state-of-the-art tools, experienced consultants, and professional police officers.

The system’s capabilities span dark web monitoring, threat analysis, and social media monitoring. Citizens can access services through helpline number 1930, supported by over 150 cyber consultants. In less than six months, over 1,000 crore rupees that would have been lost to scamsters has been frozen and returned to victims. The system has also prevented 70 young women from committing suicide by efficiently tracking and intervening in cyberbullying and sextortion cases.

Yadav presented the “Echoes of Pahalgam” case study, demonstrating AI’s role in national security. During military conflict with Pakistan, over one million cyber attacks from various countries were successfully thwarted using AI-powered threat intelligence tools.

Looking toward future challenges, Yadav warned about quantum computing threats to current encryption systems, noting that China and other countries have invested $15-20 billion in quantum computing research while India has invested only $1 billion.

Digital Public Infrastructure and AI Integration

Suresh Sethi from Protean EGov Technologies outlined how AI can enhance India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including identity systems (Aadhaar), payment rails (UPI), and document storage (DigiLocker). This existing infrastructure provides India with strategic advantages for AI implementation through authenticated, organised data at scale.

Sethi outlined three key transformations: transitioning from static identity to dynamic eligibility through digitally verifiable credentials; shifting from reactive to predictive governance where AI anticipates citizen needs; and reducing inclusion and exclusion errors in benefit distribution through improved targeting precision.

However, Sethi emphasised essential guardrails: AI decisions must be explainable, systems must be auditable, and human redressal pathways must be maintained for accountability and justice.

Industry Perspective on Holistic AI Implementation

Ranjeet Goswami from Tata Consultancy Services brought a private sector perspective informed by the Tata Group’s community-focused philosophy. Drawing on founder Jamshedji Tata’s principle that community is the fundamental purpose of business, Goswami argued that AI should deliver welfare and happiness to communities rather than merely technical efficiency.

This translates into breaking down departmental silos within government, treating citizens as citizens of the state rather than individual departments. Goswami advocated for platform intelligence enabling departments to share information and coordinate services effectively, recognising that citizens interact with government as a unified entity.

Ethical AI and Gender Considerations

Beena Sarkar, representing Women for Ethical AI South Asia (powered by UNESCO), introduced critical ethical dimensions often overlooked in technical discussions. She challenged the assumption that all AI technologies should be adopted simply because they are technologically feasible, using smart glasses as an example of technology recalled due to safety concerns around non-consensual image capture.

Sarkar emphasised contextualisation and humanisation of AI technologies before deployment, arguing that India should evaluate technologies for their impact on vulnerable populations, particularly women. Her advocacy for the India Safety Institute, to be instituted in 2025, represents a proactive approach to evaluating technologies before market entry rather than addressing problems after deployment.

Infrastructure and Inclusion Challenges

Dr. Amit Kapoor from the Institute for Competitiveness provided assessment of infrastructure and social challenges for successful AI implementation. His analysis revealed that of Maharashtra’s 9 crore workforce, only 20% operate at skill levels 3 and 4, while 80% remain at basic skill levels, representing a fundamental challenge requiring comprehensive education reform and skill development.

Infrastructure limitations present significant barriers, with internet connectivity and broadband quality remaining inadequate even in Maharashtra. Mumbai’s average broadband speed may be insufficient for widespread AI deployment requiring real-time processing. Kapoor noted that Maharashtra contributes 17-18% of India’s GDP and Pune alone has 16% of India’s IT workforce, yet infrastructure challenges persist.

Kapoor highlighted opportunities for AI application in addressing basic needs, noting that with 50% of Maharashtra’s population suffering from malnutrition, AI could enable precision nutrition interventions. He also warned about AI’s potential negative cognitive effects, expressing concern that AI could become a “dumbing down element for society.”

Panel Discussion and Technical Perspectives

The discussion was moderated by Devroop Dhar, with Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay from Nanyang Technological University providing brief technical insights into quantum computing and AI intersection, complementing the practical implementation focus of other speakers.

Synthesis and Future Directions

The discussion revealed sophisticated understanding of AI governance extending beyond simple technology adoption. Maharashtra’s “living laboratory” approach provides valuable lessons for other states and countries, particularly in the Global South, about practical AI implementation in governance contexts.

Key tensions emerged requiring ongoing attention: balancing innovation with regulation, managing AI’s efficiency benefits against potential negative social impacts, and ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement. The emphasis on infrastructure development, capacity building, and ethical frameworks suggests successful AI governance requires comprehensive, multi-dimensional approaches.

Critical areas for continued attention include quantum computing preparedness, data sovereignty, inclusive AI access across different city tiers, workforce transformation, and developing explainable AI systems. The summit’s positioning as the first global AI summit in the Global South demonstrates that developing countries can lead rather than follow in AI governance innovation, with Maharashtra’s practical, implementation-focused approach offering valuable lessons for other developing regions balancing technological advancement with social equity.

Session transcript

Mr. Virendra Singh

Artificial intelligence is real and it is influencing governance, markets, public services and even geopolitics. The question before us is not whether AI will shape governance. The question is whether governance is going to shape the artificial intelligence. It’s transforming governance in fundamental ways today. Through decision intelligence, public service delivery at scale and national security and strategic stability. Moreover, the governance challenge becomes uniquely complex as AI introduces speed, opacity to a level, concentration, global reach and dual use. This creates a governance paradox. Regulate too slowly and risk harm. Regulate too slowly and risk harm. Regulate too heavily and risk stagnation. The answer is not control versus innovation. The answer is intelligent governance. Therefore, the principle of AI governance should necessarily include human -centered design, transparency and accountability, risk -based regulations, global cooperation, and adaptive policies.

AI does not recognize borders. We need interoperable frameworks, shared safety standards, and cooperative oversight mechanisms. Governance frameworks must evolve as the artificial intelligence evolves. Static policies cannot manage dynamic intelligence. In this era, we move from individual, national -level policies to coordinated global norms, and that’s the necessity for today. History will not judge us by our sophisticated algorithms. It will judge us by the wisdom of our governance. The industrial revolution reshaped economies. The digital revolution reshaped communication. The AI revolution will reshape decision -making itself. With that power comes great responsibility. The digital revolution which we are undergoing today, surely we stand at crossroads. One path leads to inequity, instability and uncontrolled disruption. The other leads to augmented human capability, smart governance and inclusive prosperity.

The difference between these futures will not be determined by machines. It will be determined by us, the policy makers, the people who use it and each and every person who is involved in the process of AI governance. Therefore, we need to commit today to ourselves for building AI systems that are safe, secure, transparent, equitable and sustainable. and aligned with core human values. And that’s what we are going to discuss here today. Last but not the least, the message that this panel discussion and the fireside chat is going to give is let us govern intelligence with wisdom. Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you, sir. We are truly honored to have with us today a leader who has been forefront of technology -driven governance in Maharashtra. I now request Shri Ashish Shailar Sir, Honorable Minister of IT and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, to grace us with a keynote address.

Mr. Ashish Shelar

Good morning to everybody. Respected guests, dignitaries, Excellencies and all the policy makers, members of the media, dear friends, young challengers, ladies and gentlemen. Namaskar, Vande Mataram and a very good morning to all. India today is not merely hosting an AI summit. India is helping to ride the operating system of AI age. We meet at Bharat Mandapam under the banner Maha AI, building safe, secure and smart governance. As a part of AI Impact Summit 2026, the first in its global series to be hosted in the global south. Over 20 heads of state, 60 ministers and hundreds of AI leaders from the industry and academia are here. Reflecting a shared vision. A shared conviction that AI must be inclusive, responsible and resilient.

I hereby say under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvisi, Maharashtra has positioned itself as a living laboratory for AI in governance. Our partnership with global technology leaders, for example, our AI -powered Mahak Crime OS, showcased by Microsoft’s Satya Nadellaji, has already transformed how we prevent, detect and investigate crime, faster response, shorter investigation cycles and more transparent processes. Simultaneously, our state digital agency, Mahaiti, is building what we call an intelligent government infrastructure, a cloud native, and a cloud -based infrastructure. modular, API -driven backbone that uses AI to integrate services, predict needs, and respond in real -time. This spans smart recruitment, AI -based property mapping for urban local bodies, real -time urban dashboard for traffic, weather, and civic issues, and pilots in flood management and smart mobility.

The philosophy is simple. Use AI not to distance the state from the citizens, but to make governance more human, faster, more responsive, and more inclusive. In other words, scale empathy through insight. Across the world, public sectors are resting with the same three imperatives. So better safeguard digital sovereignty. and adopt AI responsibly. Many countries have realized that interportal, public, date and robust AI governance are becoming strategic infrastructure at par with energy, transport or telecom. For Maharashtra, Maha AI is our response to this challenge. A safe, secure, smart governance stack must rest on five pillars. Computers, compute and cloud at scale number one, high quality public data sets number two, state AI governance number three, and interpolarity and standards number four, and capacity building is number five.

Smart governance is not only about deploying chatbots or dashboards. It is about building resilient, auditable, human -centered, AI systems. into the nerve systems of cities and states, transport, energy, public safety, urban planning, disaster response and welfare delivery, without trustworthy air governance, smart cities’ risk opacity, bias, security breaches and erosion of public trust. In Maharashtra, we see internet health as a core policy concern, just as physical health is essential for individuals, digital health is essential for societies. Disinformation, deepfakes, AI -generated fraud and cyberattacks can undermine democracies, markets and communities with unprecedented speed. Our response must be combined. That is robust cyber security, digital literacy and critical thinking, hybrid verification ecosystem. and that is our response as far as our state is concerned.

I am really happy to be the part of this summit and at the same time giving a response addressing the challenges and our ecosystem under the name of Mahayaya and therefore we are here to present our case as a building safe, secure, smart governance and appeal all the best of the technologies and platforms of the world to associate, coexist and work with us. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you, sir. Your vision for a digitally empowered Maharashtra truly sets the tone for everything we will discuss today. And now the highlight of today’s session. May I request all the panelists to join us on the stage please Sri Praveen Pardeshi Sir Yashasvi Adav Sir Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay Dr. Amit Kapoor Mr. Suresh Sethi Major Ranjit Goswami Ms. Bina Sarkar Mr. Dev Rukhdar Davinder Sandhu Dr. Ganesh Ramakrishnan Vikash Chandra Rastogi Sir Rajesh Agarwal Sir Mr. Suresh Sethi Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Shri Yashastri Yadav, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber Department, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Dr. Amit Kapoor, Chair, Institute for Competitiveness, Mr. Suresh Sethi, Managing Director and CEO, Protean EGov Technologies, Major Ranjit Goswami, Head, Corporate Affairs, Tata Consultancy Services, Ms. Beena Sarkar, Customer Success Executive Service Now, and moderating this conversation is Mr. Devaroop Dhar, Co -Founder and CEO, Primus Partners.

I now hand over to Mr. Devaroop Dhar to moderate this session.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thank you, Aditi, and a warm welcome to all our panel members. I’ll start with Praveen Paradesi, sir. So, sir, at Mitra, you have been experimenting a lot with AI. There are multiple AI initiatives which have been taken. If you could share your thoughts, your vision as we start this.

Mr. Praveen Pardeshi

So first, the most important thing about AI is getting our energy, some of the hard things right. So one is energy because, you know, remember President Trump just mentioned that why should we be paying for Indians who are processing most of our answers. So I think we are pushing on green energy, more than 19 ,000 megawatts of that to come up at solar level. So that’s the fuel for AI in future. The second is that capacity building. So all our staff from Mitra and a lot of our other departments, we went to this AI university and gave them a course. And we also hope that there will be online courses available on IGOT where government staff can become empowered to use AI.

Then we look at what is the impact on the economy. So the impact on the economy, mostly people are concerned about the jobs. And that’s a real issue. One analysis from NITI. Shows that from 1950. to 2020, all highly educated people with postgraduate degrees, engineers, they are the ones who had a 95 % plus chance of getting jobs. But from 2020 till now, 0 .65 % is the rate at which physical jobs, that is, masons, bricklayers, home carers, their value and their employability is increasing vis -a -vis highly educated ones. So this is the impact of AI. So how should we do this better? One is, of course, as our Secretary IT mentioned, making it available in government, ensuring seamless access to services.

But other aspects which we don’t look at, which we are working through our state data authority, is how do we also encash the data at a large scale? Because otherwise we become… a sitting target for people to just use India’s data for monetizing their own values. So two big examples are pharmaceuticals. India has the largest population and the number of diseases, experiments, et cetera. Now, this is all health data, and this is very valuable for pharma companies. So the state data authority is working on issues wherein we can make it a single source of proof, make it available also, and if there is a commercial possibility, make those resources available to India, that is to our government, and not to be cashed for free.

So these are some of the applications. Government issues many, many orders. We have issued more than 150 ,000 orders, which are called government GRs. And it’s a maze through which it’s very difficult even for government officers, whose departments it is, to understand what is the latest position on a complicated situation. So we are working with Professor Ganesh here from IIT Mumbai. So Mitra and we are working together with them. And we are working with the government to make sure that we are getting the best results. And we are working with the government to make sure that we are getting the best results. disentangle all these orders through a small language model, not a large language model, and so that you can query at two levels.

One, for the government officers. The government officers should be able to ask in any complicated situation, what is the latest position on whether an additional FSIF or a building permit can be given in this situation or not, what are the Supreme Court orders. And on the other hand, citizens should also be able to ask under those rules. So this is called Maha GPT, and hopefully this will be the first application, which is both available to government officers and to citizens. I stop here.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thank you, sir, for sharing all these examples, wonderful examples. I’ll come to Yashishvi Yadav, sir. Cyber is another large user of AI. So if you could share your examples, your experience around how cyber is using AI.

Mr. Yashasvi Yadav

Okay, so law enforcement and cyber security. is one of the major concerns for law enforcement agencies all over the world. And I would like to draw your attention that under the visionary leadership of our Chief Minister, Mr. Devinder Fadnavis, who had the foresight to use AI in law enforcement work about five years ago. So we have launched and implemented this Maharashtra Cyber Security Project, which generously borrows AI tools, technologies, algorithms. And we are fighting real crime with these technologies. And the USP of this project is that the best and the most state -of -the -art tools, technologies, experienced consultants in the field of cyber security, and experienced and professional police officers have all coalesced, under one roof.

And there is a live police station as well. So this is how cyber security is being embellished through this project. And the beauty is that the dark web monitoring, threat analysis, social media monitoring, or any type of cyber crime, sextortion, ransomware, cyber bullying, and a lot of other types which cyber crime takes. They can all be undertaken, handled by just one, on the fingertips by just one helpline number, 1930. So this agency, if any kind of cyber issue is with any citizen, they can just dial this 1930 number and all the cyber solutions will be provided by more than 150 cyber consultants. So a lot of AI tools are being used. And this is the reason why we are using this and seamlessly.

And the best part of this whole exercise is that in less than six months, more than 1000 crore of rupees, which would have gone into the hand of the scamsters have been frozen and are being ultimately returned to the victims. What a big relief to the victims. And more than 70 young girls who were being subjected to intense cyberbullying, blackmailing and sextortion and were on the verge of committing suicide because of very efficient AI tracking. They were prevented from taking the extreme step. And 70 lives have been saved in less than six months of its operation. So that’s how AI is at the forefront. Thank you. Is at the forefront of being the bulwark against cyber security concerns.

I would like to draw your attention to only one report that we generated. which is called Echoes of Pahalgam. Now, in that case, while the Indian Army was fighting a conventional war with Pakistan because of the Pahalgam incident, more than one million cyber attacks were launched by nation -state actors, whom we called as APT, groups from Indonesia, Pakistan, and even Turkey, and so many other countries. And they were thwarted by such AI tools, which we call as threat intelligence tools, like Luminar, Cognite, or Pathfinder, which are big data analytical tools. So in the dark net, we still find the traces of these cyber attacks. So cyber crime is now slowly progressing into cyber terrorism and cyber warfare.

So that is what we have to be very, very careful. and before I end this preliminary address, I would like to also draw your attention what beyond AI? A big, big threat is lurking. It is called quantum computing. Now quantum computing can do processes in qubits, hundreds of millions of qubits. It’s at speed and it can solve complex issues in less than six seconds which the best of supercomputers would take more than 50 years to do it immediately. So quantum computing can break the best of encryptions including RSA encryptions of the banking industry, including blockchain technology. Now if these encryptions are broken in less than few minutes, the whole financial system can be lopsided and lots of money can flow into actors or threat actors which we are not aware at all.

Bitcoin can be broken Even credit card Encryptions can be broken Banking systems, encryptions can be broken So right now we have to prepare What quantum computing Can give us as in terms of Pros and what can be The shortcomings or dangers Lurking because of quantum Computing, the cons So we have to prepare because China And other countries have already invested 15 billion dollars Or even close to 20 billion dollars We have invested only 1 billion Dollar till now So that’s how we have to catch up with Quantum computing before it’s too late So this is how cyber security And law enforcement perspective On AI And I would like to pass on the baton To the next speaker, thank you

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thank you sir, that was quite reassuring as well And since you spoke about quantum I want to bring in Dr. Anupam Chattopadhyay. Anupam, you’re working at the intersection of quantum and AI. So if you could share your thoughts, how are things moving in that direction? pooled into the product in order to help this. Thanks, Anupam, for giving a perspective, both from research as well as industry. So I’ll come to Suresh, you. So you’re working extensively in DPIs, and there’s a strong interaction between DPIs and AI. So from your experience, how are things moving in the DPI space, and how is AI influencing?

Mr. Suresh Sethi

Thanks, Devroop. I think from a DPI perspective, we are all very familiar. We today have population -scale digital rates. And, you know, that puts us in a very sweet spot because today a lot of times when we start using or embedding AI into any technology, are we ready to embed AI or not? And I think there was reference to data sets, how is data organized, how can you enable AI on top of it? So I think, first of all, the population -scale DPI that we have, that gives us a significant advantage. Whether we talk about identity, we talk about our UPI rails, which is the payment and the transactional layer which comes on top of it.

And similarly, when we look at data itself, DigiLocker today has millions of authenticated documents that come into play over there. So while we have the digital infrastructure in place, if we can embed an intelligence layer on top of it, and if the question is around targeting subsidy, getting the right beneficiary, putting the money in the hands of the right person, that becomes a very, very important and significant leverage. I will just take two or three examples where we see AI playing a significant role. One is that as we move from static identity to dynamic eligibility. Now, we’ve seen it all happen. Today, we have digitally verifiable credentials. So the moment you are using static identity, you are only able to prove who you are, what do you do.

and then you are applying for getting some sort of benefits or subsidy coming through to you. But if you have verifiable credentials, these are credentials which are machine readable. We talk about the concept of blue dot, which technically means all of us have certain attributes which are associated with us. If these are available in a machine readable format, then AI can actually determine who is eligible for what subsidy. The second part comes to the fact saying, are we being reactive or can we do predictive governance? And predictive governance can be strongly enabled by AI because the moment you are having credentials which are digitally verifiable, you are actually able to predict who needs some sort of subsidy.

Now today, if there’s a distress in income and that can be tracked, you can trigger some sort of benefit to that and coming at a government level. If you can put data. consented data being shared with the government, the same can come through. And last but not least is the important part related to inclusion error and exclusion error. So when we talk about inclusion error, we are talking about leakages. When we are talking about exclusion, naturally we are saying the right person is not getting what is due to them. So your ability to be able to predict precision using verification is going to be very critical. Again, an AI layer can be embedded over there.

But all this very clearly, and we’ve heard it before, all this is very clearly important to have the guardrails around it. So AI should be explainable. The moment we are saying explainable, today a decision taken not to give benefits to somebody should be very clearly explained. And similarly, if there are benefits going out, that should also be explainable. The second part is auditable. So whatever we are doing, there has to be an audit layer over there to explain what has happened. And more importantly, there should be a human redressal pathway because ultimately you can’t put everything to machines. You have to have that human person coming into play and having accountability settled over there. So I think these are critical aspects which can make governance more predictive, more precise, and more proactive going forward by embedding an intelligence layer into the DBI.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thanks, Suresh. I think very valid and meaningful points. I’ll come to Ranjit. Now, we’re talking about AI. There are a lot of happenings which are there. We have seen, we have heard about so many things at the summit. Now, a major tech company like TCS, which is doing a lot of work in this, how does large tech companies come in and collaborate with state governments? How can you enable that? What can be the steps in that?

Mr. Ranjeet Goswami

Thank you, Devroop. I think… we need to first take a holistic view of what are we trying to achieve with AI. The tagline for this summit, if we go by that, welfare for all, happiness for all is very holistically kind of captures it. As coming from Tata Group, I am reminded that 170 years back almost, our founding father, Jamshedji Tata spoke about giving us the guidance saying that society or community is not another stakeholder in the business. It is the purpose as to why the business exists in the first place. Similarly, if we were to apply the same analogy over here today, I think AI is not a technical tool which is fundamentally going to make the governance more efficient.

It is fundamentally meant for how to bring the benefit, welfare and happiness to the community at large. If we try and approach the question from that perspective, it definitely comes out. And like even Suresh alluded to, how do we make sure that it is inclusive, the people get the right benefits that they are entitled to, and do not go to somebody who is not entitled to. The colleague from the police forces also spoke about as to how the criminal tracking and other things. These are translating the intent into action at the ground level. Lastly, when it comes to organizations like DCS, we believe that each department in the government firstly should not be treated in isolation.

Each department in the government should have the ability to have a common database of people, be able to extract the information, and ensure that the citizen is seen as a citizen of the state or the country, and not as a citizen of the department. So that common databasing is something that we are trying to approach. We have the Aadhaar database. Not every department is still connected to it. Of course, we are trying to find a reason as to how that can become the major point of it. So small steps like that, and of course, bringing in the platform’s intelligence to its core. That’s fundamentally the steps that we have taken.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thanks, Ranjit. With that, I’ll go to Bina. Bina, I want to talk on the aspect of ethical AI biases, especially you work with women for ethical AI. How do you see biases or maybe biases around gender diversity creeping in and what needs to be done around this?

Ms. Beena Sarkar

Thank you, Debru. So, yes, I do work. I volunteer with the Women for Ethical AI South Asia chapter. It’s powered by UNESCO. So one of the key questions that we ask ourselves is what are we solving for? Every time and I’ve been looking at the various solutions that are. Debuting or being showcased as part of the. India AI mission. Many a times when we look at a particular hardware or a piece of any new device through which we are delivering what we now call as AI services, mostly on large language models, I should say that. What we sometimes seem to miss is the wood for the trees. I will just give a very hard example over here.

We do know smart glasses is not a new phenomenon. It was introduced by Google Glasses way back in 2015, I remember 2013, 2015, 2016, about that range. One of the reasons why it was recalled was you had safety concerns because people were taking images, videos without consent. we have seen the return of these glasses and those concerns have not gone away and yet you see them in the market you see it in India being sold in every in any optic store, in my neighborhood optic store I have my colleagues who flaunt it saying that I am so cool, I have taken the latest piece of technology so when we talk about how do you build ethics and governance Yashasvi sir said you are the best, you are the best framework.

So what this means is we are not giving guns to everybody. Right. India has been very, very smart about it. Of course, there are certain countries where owning a gun is is fine. It’s as for their rights. That doesn’t mean India has to adopt it. Right. We have our very able police force. We have the Indian army. Right. So what is exciting outside? One needs to contextualize it, humanize it, see if it is threatening 50 percent of your population. I’m a part of that population and then decide whether it even needs to exist. In that market. So when you’re building out solutions and when you’re building out devices, we have the India Safety Institute. It has been instituted in 2025.

I do know that. What I would urge policymakers is that it should not, while we do have it and I do know we are working with Research Institute, industry, industry, ideally, if any new device comes like this, the first line of defense, so to speak, should be this institute. That actually should determine whether it actually creates a problem for the police force, for cyber security, right? Does it threaten 50 % of the population? We are already seeing it playing out in the UK, US. There is no policy that protects us. Even now, we are not protected as women. Leave women, even children, right? So I think that is something one really needs to take into consideration.

While we love technology, trust me, as a lady, I find it extremely liberating to be able to create applications with just language. But if you use that technology against us by bringing out devices and hardware that endanger us, I feel that’s where it breaks down. So you definitely, as part of ethics, you need to evaluate it from that framework. I call it the Kali versus the Rakta Bija effect. I’m sure some of you know that. Why would you create a Rakta Bija? Create a Kali.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

So, Beena, I think a very valid point that you have made. With that, I’ll move to Dr. Amit Kapoor. We’re talking of AI and its impact and benefits. How do you see this benefit percolating? Next level of cities, tier 2, tier 3, other places.

Dr. Amit Kapoor

So, Devru, this is a very important question. And as I was hearing all the panelists here, I would like to rake a few points. We definitely agree that, yes, AI can be transformational. But we have to understand a couple of points here. One of them is that, S2, what is the quality of education that we are giving so that people are able to use it in the right earnest? In fact, the issue that Bina was talking about is about ethics, education, and so on and so forth. The larger point here is when you talk about the skill development levels in Maharashtra, out of the 100 % or 9 crore workforce that you have, only about 20 % of them are at skill level 3 and 4.

80 % of them are at skill level 1 and 2. So if you have to move beyond that, you need to do something far greater. That means you need to embed your education system and build it very strongly. And then the second point out here is that how do we use, and if you really want to talk about tier 1 and 2, sorry, tier 2 and tier 3 cities, we have to also understand that what is the level of penetration and quality of internet in these locations. We can tom -tom about internet and everything, but the numbers are not very supportive right now. And you talk about internet and broadband connectivity. There are severe issues with this within the state of Maharashtra itself, which is supposedly one of the finest states in terms of internet connectivity itself.

The average speed of internet traffic in Bombay or in Mumbai is about 58 Mbps on a broadband network. When you are talking about usage of AI, and if you want to take it to the masses, then you have to have far better, deeper internet connectivity and broadband. I think it has to be done on a war footing. Not that we are not getting there, but it will have to be done faster and quicker. The second thing is going to be about inadequacy of supporting infrastructure. So this is where I also see that there is a tremendous level of opportunity that exists in Maharashtra to create this. Because if you really look at it, like 16 % of India’s workforce, IT workforce, or what you call a technology workforce sits in one single city in Maharashtra.

That is Pune. So if you’re really talking about it, that means Maharashtra has the potential, the talent to really take it to the next level. And that is where you have to build infrastructure. You will have to build what you call, when you talk about the data centers, et cetera, the opportunity does exist and things. And last but not the least is about, it’s going to be about cost and affordability. You will have to bring cost and affordability to these services as you go along. But having said that, I think the larger potential, we have not touched here. And when you talk about Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, this technology has a huge possible impact that can be done at Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and that is about nutrition.

Today, Maharashtra actually has a problem on nutrition. Fifty percent of the people in Maharashtra are malnourished even today. How do I use this technology to assess what is happening in my PIN code level or a smaller level of geography in various cities? And location. The second thing is about water and sanitation, access to basic knowledge. What about access to can AI solve my education problem in tier two and tier three cities? In fact, none of us is talking about the elephant in the room. And that elephant in the room is that we are all super excited about AI, but we are not understanding that AI is also going to be the biggest dumping down element for the society.

In fact, when you talk about AI itself, it is going to make bonobos out of us. People out here, when you actually use the doom scrolling, when you talk about Instagram, what is happening to our children? And that is exactly what AI is going to do. How do we set our education system right? That’s what you have to do in tier two and tier three cities. Last point, and that is about the higher education space itself. When you talk about your workforce, and close to about 50 % of it is underemployed. So I have to disagree with Praveen for one small point. He made a very powerful point in terms of saying that how after 2020, there has been a transformation.

In terms of how people are getting jobs, et cetera. I do agree with. But the larger point here is that we are also not preparing our workforce right, and that is happening in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. So we need to take it there. Potential exists. As of today, Maharashtra is the engine of growth in India. We cannot debate that. Even today, it is about close to 17 % to 18 % of India’s GDP, and it will define India’s growth story in the future, definitely. But if Maharashtra does it right, then the country can follow suit on this. And that is where things have to be.

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Thank you, Dr. Amit. And thanks to all the panelists. So with that, we’ll come to the end of the panel discussion.

Moderator

Thank you so much. Thank you to all our esteemed panelists and senior officers who are here. May I request all our panelists to just step forward for a photo? Very interesting, sir. May I request you to join our esteemed panelists? on this piece. Thank you. Thank you.

Mr. Virendra Singh

Speech speed

110 words per minute

Speech length

371 words

Speech time

201 seconds

Intelligent Governance Framework

Explanation

Virendra Singh stresses that AI governance must be intelligent and evolve alongside AI, incorporating human‑centered design, transparency, accountability, risk‑based regulation, global cooperation and adaptive policies.

Evidence

“The answer is intelligent governance” [1]. “Governance frameworks must evolve as the artificial intelligence evolves” [2]. “Therefore, the principle of AI governance should necessarily include human -centered design, transparency and accountability, risk -based regulations, global cooperation, and adaptive policies” [8]. “We need interoperable frameworks, shared safety standards, and cooperative oversight mechanisms” [11].

Major discussion point

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Data governance | The enabling environment for digital development

Mr. Ashish Shelar

Speech speed

99 words per minute

Speech length

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society

Mr. Suresh Sethi

Speech speed

162 words per minute

Speech length

643 words

Speech time

237 seconds

Explainable & Auditable AI with Human Redress

Explanation

Sethi argues that AI must be explainable and auditable, and that human accountability is essential for trustworthy outcomes.

Evidence

“So AI should be explainable” [24]. “The second part is auditable” [25]. “And similarly, if there are benefits going out, that should also be explainable” [31]. “You have to have that human person coming into play and having accountability settled over there” [33].

Major discussion point

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Data governance

Population‑Scale DPI Enables Precise Subsidy Allocation

Explanation

Sethi points out that a population‑scale Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) combined with verifiable credentials allows predictive, precise subsidy targeting.

Evidence

“first of all, the population‑scale DPI that we have, that gives us a significant advantage” [101]. “predictive governance can be strongly enabled by AI because the moment you are having credentials which are digitally verifiable, you are actually able to predict who needs some sort of subsidy” [102].

Major discussion point

Data Sovereignty, Economic Opportunities & Monetization

Topics

Data governance | Artificial intelligence | Social and economic development

Mr. Praveen Pardeshi

Speech speed

171 words per minute

Speech length

Infrastructure & Energy Foundations for AI

Topics

Environmental impacts | Artificial intelligence

Mr. Yashasvi Yadav

Speech speed

129 words per minute

Speech length

Infrastructure & Energy Foundations for AI

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | Artificial intelligence

Mr. Ranjeet Goswami

Speech speed

156 words per minute

Speech length

361 words

Speech time

138 seconds

Integrated Citizen Database & Platform Intelligence via Tech Partnerships

Explanation

Goswami advocates for a common, Aadhaar‑linked database that enables every department to access citizen data uniformly, powered by an API‑driven AI platform.

Evidence

“We have the Aadhaar database” [59]. “Each department in the government should have the ability to have a common database of people, be able to extract the information, and ensure that the citizen is seen as a citizen of the state or the country, not as a citizen of the department” [68]. “modular, API -driven backbone that uses AI to integrate services, predict needs, and respond in real -time” [69].

Major discussion point

AI‑Driven Public Service Delivery & Security

Topics

Data governance | Artificial intelligence | Social and economic development

Ms. Beena Sarkar

Speech speed

116 words per minute

Speech length

592 words

Speech time

306 seconds

Gender‑Sensitive Ethical AI Standards

Explanation

Sarkar highlights her volunteer work with Women for Ethical AI, stressing the need to address gender bias and ensure AI does not harm women.

Evidence

“I volunteer with the Women for Ethical AI South Asia chapter” [37]. “Bina, I want to talk on the aspect of ethical AI biases, especially you work with women for ethical AI” [36]. “But if you use that technology against us by bringing out devices and hardware that endanger us, I feel that’s where it breaks down” [117].

Major discussion point

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Closing all digital divides | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Artificial intelligence

Dr. Amit Kapoor

Speech speed

202 words per minute

Speech length

911 words

Speech time

269 seconds

Upskilling Workforce: Only 20% at High Skill Levels

Explanation

Kapoor points out that merely 20 % of Maharashtra’s 9 crore workforce is at skill levels 3‑4, while 80 % remain at basic levels, underscoring the need for broad AI education.

Evidence

“out of the 100 % or 9 crore workforce that you have, only about 20 % of them are at skill level 3 and 4” [76]. “80 % of them are at skill level 1 and 2” [78]. “When you talk about your workforce, and close to about 50 % of it is underemployed” [77].

Major discussion point

Capacity Building, Skills & Workforce Readiness

Topics

Capacity development | Social and economic development

Broadband Speed, Data Centers & Affordability as Critical Enablers

Explanation

Kapoor stresses that reliable, high‑speed internet and affordable data‑center services are essential for scaling AI, especially in tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities.

Evidence

“you have to have far better, deeper internet connectivity and broadband” [82]. “when you talk about tier 2 and tier 3 cities, we have to also understand that what is the level of internet penetration and quality” [124]. “You will have to bring cost and affordability to these services as you go along” [123].

Major discussion point

Infrastructure & Energy Foundations for AI

Topics

Information and communication technologies for development | Capacity development

Mr. Devroop Dhar

Speech speed

46 words per minute

Speech length

393 words

Speech time

510 seconds

AI Overview and Initiatives

Explanation

Dhar notes that multiple AI initiatives are underway and that the discussion is focused on AI’s impact and benefits across sectors.

Evidence

“Now, we’re talking about AI” [26]. “We’re talking of AI and its impact and benefits” [27]. “There are multiple AI initiatives which have been taken” [63].

Major discussion point

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Social and economic development

Moderator

Speech speed

47 words per minute

Speech length

AI Governance & Global Cooperation

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society

Agreements

Agreement points

Need for comprehensive AI governance frameworks with human-centered principles

Speakers

– Mr. Virendra Singh
– Mr. Suresh Sethi

Arguments

AI governance must include human-centered design, transparency, accountability, risk-based regulations, and global cooperation

AI systems must be explainable, auditable, and include human redressal pathways

Summary

Both speakers emphasize the critical importance of establishing AI governance frameworks that prioritize human welfare, transparency, and accountability mechanisms

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society

Importance of capacity building and training for AI implementation

Speakers

– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Dr. Amit Kapoor

Arguments

Comprehensive staff training through AI university courses and online platforms for government employees

80% of Maharashtra’s workforce at basic skill levels requiring enhanced education and training

Summary

Both speakers recognize that successful AI implementation requires significant investment in human capacity development and skills training

Topics

Capacity development | Artificial intelligence

Need for integrated government systems and data sharing

Speakers

– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Mr. Ranjeet Goswami
– Mr. Suresh Sethi

Arguments

Development of MahaGPT for querying government orders and regulations for both officers and citizens

Need for integrated approach treating citizens as state citizens rather than department-specific entities

Population-scale digital public infrastructure providing advantage for AI implementation

Summary

All three speakers advocate for breaking down departmental silos and creating integrated systems that serve citizens holistically

Topics

Information and communication technologies for development | Data governance | Social and economic development

Recognition of cybersecurity as critical infrastructure requiring AI-powered solutions

Speakers

– Mr. Yashasvi Yadav
– Ms. Beena Sarkar

Arguments

Maharashtra Cyber Security Project using AI tools for real-time crime fighting and prevention

Importance of evaluating new AI devices and technologies for safety impact on vulnerable populations

Summary

Both speakers acknowledge cybersecurity as a fundamental concern that requires sophisticated AI tools while also considering safety implications

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | Artificial intelligence

Need for sustainable infrastructure to support AI operations

Speakers

– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Dr. Amit Kapoor

Arguments

Focus on green energy infrastructure with 19,000+ megawatts solar capacity for AI operations

Need for better internet connectivity and broadband infrastructure in tier 2 and tier 3 cities

Summary

Both speakers emphasize that AI implementation requires robust underlying infrastructure, including energy and connectivity

Topics

Environmental impacts | Information and communication technologies for development | Closing all digital divides

Similar viewpoints

All three Maharashtra government officials showcase the state as a pioneer in practical AI implementation across various government functions

Speakers

– Mr. Ashish Shelar
– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Mr. Yashasvi Yadav

Arguments

Maharashtra positioned as living laboratory for AI in governance with AI-powered crime prevention systems

Development of MahaGPT for querying government orders and regulations for both officers and citizens

Maharashtra Cyber Security Project using AI tools for real-time crime fighting and prevention

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Social and economic development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Both speakers emphasize the strategic importance of leveraging India’s data assets for national benefit rather than allowing free exploitation by foreign entities

Speakers

– Mr. Suresh Sethi
– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi

Arguments

State data authority working to monetize India’s valuable health and pharmaceutical data

AI enabling transition from static identity to dynamic eligibility through verifiable credentials

Topics

Data governance | The digital economy | Artificial intelligence

Both speakers express concern about potential negative societal impacts of AI and emphasize the need for careful evaluation and safeguards

Speakers

– Ms. Beena Sarkar
– Dr. Amit Kapoor

Arguments

Importance of evaluating new AI devices and technologies for safety impact on vulnerable populations

Risk of AI becoming a ‘dumbing down’ element for society requiring careful education system design

Topics

Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Artificial intelligence

Unexpected consensus

Employment disruption from AI requiring focus on physical jobs

Arguments

State data authority working to monetize India’s valuable health and pharmaceutical data

Explanation

Unexpected framing of data monetization not just as economic opportunity but as preventing exploitation by foreign entities, treating data sovereignty as a national security concern

Topics

Data governance | The digital economy

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus on need for human-centered AI governance, integrated government systems, capacity building, and robust infrastructure. Agreement on Maharashtra as AI implementation leader and importance of cybersecurity.

Consensus level

High level of consensus among speakers with complementary rather than conflicting viewpoints. The agreement spans technical, policy, and ethical dimensions, suggesting a mature understanding of AI governance challenges. This consensus provides a solid foundation for coordinated AI policy implementation, though the focus on Maharashtra-specific examples may limit broader applicability.

Differences

Social and economic development | Closing all digital divides | Information and communication technologies for development

Unexpected differences

Fundamental approach to AI risk assessment

Speakers

– Ms. Beena Sarkar
– Most other panelists

Arguments

Importance of evaluating new AI devices and technologies for safety impact on vulnerable populations

Various arguments promoting AI benefits and implementation

Explanation

While most speakers focused on AI benefits and implementation strategies, Sarkar uniquely challenged the fundamental assumption that all AI technologies should be adopted, arguing some should be prevented from entering the market entirely if they threaten vulnerable populations

Topics

Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Data monetization versus data protection priorities

Speakers

– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Ms. Beena Sarkar

Arguments

State data authority working to monetize India’s valuable health and pharmaceutical data

Importance of evaluating new AI devices and technologies for safety impact on vulnerable populations

Explanation

Pardeshi focuses on monetizing India’s health data for economic benefit, while Sarkar’s emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations suggests a more cautious approach to data use that could conflict with monetization goals

Topics

Data governance | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | The digital economy

Overall assessment

Summary

The discussion revealed moderate disagreements primarily around priorities and approaches rather than fundamental opposition to AI adoption. Key tensions emerged between techno-optimistic implementation focus versus human-centered safety concerns, advanced AI applications versus basic needs fulfillment, and economic benefits versus social protection

Disagreement level

Moderate disagreement level with significant implications for AI governance strategy. The disagreements suggest need for more comprehensive frameworks that balance innovation with safety, address basic needs alongside advanced applications, and ensure inclusive stakeholder representation in AI policy development

Partial agreements

Both speakers agree on the need for accountability and oversight in AI systems, but Sethi focuses on technical accountability measures (explainability, auditability, human redressal) while Sarkar emphasizes institutional safety evaluation before market introduction

Speakers

– Mr. Suresh Sethi
– Ms. Beena Sarkar

Arguments

AI systems must be explainable, auditable, and include human redressal pathways

Need for India Safety Institute to serve as first line of defense for new AI technologies

Topics

Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | The enabling environment for digital development

Both recognize that AI governance requires careful consideration of societal impacts, but Singh focuses on adaptive policy frameworks while Kapoor warns about negative cognitive and social effects requiring education system redesign

Speakers

– Mr. Virendra Singh
– Dr. Amit Kapoor

Arguments

Governance frameworks must evolve dynamically as AI technology advances, requiring adaptive policies

Risk of AI becoming a ‘dumbing down’ element for society requiring careful education system design

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Capacity development

Similar viewpoints

All three Maharashtra government officials showcase the state as a pioneer in practical AI implementation across various government functions

Speakers

– Mr. Ashish Shelar
– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi
– Mr. Yashasvi Yadav

Arguments

Maharashtra positioned as living laboratory for AI in governance with AI-powered crime prevention systems

Development of MahaGPT for querying government orders and regulations for both officers and citizens

Maharashtra Cyber Security Project using AI tools for real-time crime fighting and prevention

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Social and economic development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Both speakers emphasize the strategic importance of leveraging India’s data assets for national benefit rather than allowing free exploitation by foreign entities

Speakers

– Mr. Suresh Sethi
– Mr. Praveen Pardeshi

Arguments

State data authority working to monetize India’s valuable health and pharmaceutical data

AI enabling transition from static identity to dynamic eligibility through verifiable credentials

Topics

Data governance | The digital economy | Artificial intelligence

Both speakers express concern about potential negative societal impacts of AI and emphasize the need for careful evaluation and safeguards

Speakers

– Ms. Beena Sarkar
– Dr. Amit Kapoor

Arguments

Importance of evaluating new AI devices and technologies for safety impact on vulnerable populations

Risk of AI becoming a ‘dumbing down’ element for society requiring careful education system design

Topics

Human rights and the ethical dimensions of the information society | Artificial intelligence

Takeaways

Key takeaways

AI governance requires a balanced approach between regulation and innovation, emphasizing human-centered design, transparency, accountability, and global cooperation

Maharashtra is successfully implementing AI as a ‘living laboratory’ with practical applications in crime prevention, government services, and citizen engagement

AI is transforming employment patterns, with physical jobs gaining value over traditional highly-educated roles, requiring workforce reskilling

Cybersecurity applications of AI have demonstrated measurable success, preventing significant financial fraud and saving lives from cyberbullying

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) provides India with a strategic advantage for AI implementation through population-scale identity and payment systems

Ethical AI implementation requires careful evaluation of new technologies for their impact on vulnerable populations, particularly women and children

Infrastructure challenges including internet connectivity, broadband quality, and green energy capacity are critical for AI adoption in tier 2 and tier 3 cities

AI systems must be explainable, auditable, and include human oversight mechanisms to maintain public trust and accountability

Resolutions and action items

Development and deployment of MahaGPT system for querying government orders and regulations for both officers and citizens

Expansion of AI university training programs and online courses through IGOT platform for government staff capacity building

Implementation of state data authority framework to monetize India’s valuable health and pharmaceutical data

Strengthening of India Safety Institute as first line of defense for evaluating new AI technologies and devices

Building intelligent government infrastructure with cloud-native, API-driven backbone for integrated services

Continued operation and expansion of Maharashtra Cyber Security Project using AI tools for crime prevention

Focus on green energy infrastructure development with 19,000+ megawatts solar capacity for AI operations

Unresolved issues

How to address the threat of quantum computing breaking current encryption systems and the significant investment gap with other countries

Strategies for preventing AI from becoming a ‘dumbing down’ element for society while maintaining its benefits

Specific mechanisms for ensuring cost and affordability of AI services in tier 2 and tier 3 cities

Detailed frameworks for addressing nutrition, water, sanitation, and education problems using AI in smaller cities

How to effectively retrain and reskill the 80% of Maharashtra’s workforce currently at basic skill levels

Specific protocols for evaluating and regulating new AI devices like smart glasses that may threaten public safety

Methods for improving internet connectivity and broadband infrastructure quality in tier 2 and tier 3 cities on a war footing

Suggested compromises

Balancing innovation with safety by implementing risk-based regulations rather than blanket restrictions

Creating adaptive policies that evolve with AI technology rather than static regulatory frameworks

Establishing human redressal pathways alongside automated AI systems to maintain accountability

Developing interoperable frameworks and shared safety standards for global cooperation while maintaining national sovereignty

This comment introduces a provocative anthropological perspective, comparing AI’s potential cognitive impact to evolutionary regression. The ‘bonobos’ metaphor is particularly striking, suggesting AI might reverse human intellectual development rather than enhance it.

Impact

This comment served as a powerful counterbalance to the generally optimistic tone of the discussion. It forced participants to confront the possibility that AI might have fundamentally negative effects on human cognitive development, shifting the conversation toward more critical examination of AI’s long-term societal implications beyond immediate governance applications.

Overall assessment

Explanation

This addresses the dual challenge of preventing AI from making people intellectually dependent while ensuring they have skills to work with AI systems

Disclaimer: This is not an official session record. DiploAI generates these resources from audiovisual recordings, and they are presented as-is, including potential errors. Due to logistical challenges, such as discrepancies in audio/video or transcripts, names may be misspelled. We strive for accuracy to the best of our ability.