Maharashtra To Roll Out First AI Policy, IT Dept To Unveil Draft Later This Year
In a significant move to boost technological innovation in the state, Maharashtra's information and technology minister Ashish Shelar has instructed his department to draft the state's first independent AI policy.
According to sources in the know, the policy will incorporate stakeholder input while aligning with Maharashtra's economic and social priorities. The draft is expected to be unveiled later this year after undergoing a thorough review by experts and industry leaders.
The decision to create an AI policy was made at a meeting chaired by Shelar, where he highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and its importance in positioning Maharashtra as a leader in this ecosystem. He emphasized that leveraging AI will attract industries, foster innovation, and generate employment opportunities for the state's youth.
Maharashtra's IT minister pointed out that the state's vision should be aligned with India's ambitious AI mission launched last year, which focuses on advancing AI capabilities through initiatives like the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, AI innovation centers, and funding support for startups.
The proposed policy aims to foster skill development and employment generation in AI technologies. With AI reshaping industries such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and logistics, the state plans to train its workforce through specialized programs and collaborations with industry leaders.
Minister Shelar also stressed on the importance of using AI-driven solutions to enhance public services and governance. He said AI can significantly boost quality of life for citizens while attracting global investments.
The initiative is seen as a way to capitalize Maharashtra's proactive approach in innovation and development, positioning it as a model state for AI adoption.
As part of this move, the Ministry of Information and Technology has initiated an engagement process with stakeholders, public representatives from across the globe, startups, educational institutions, and all categories of society representing various fields of knowledge.