As part of the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Lokmata Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC), in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, inaugurated a two-day workshop titled "AI Bharat @MP – Accelerating Good Governance through Innovation, Aadhaar and State Consultation" on Thursday at the Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre (Minto Hall), Bhopal.
The workshop drew participation from over 300 delegates, including senior policymakers from both central and state governments, technology experts, academicians, and officials from various departments. A dedicated AI Application Experience Zone was also set up to provide a hands-on look at emerging technologies.
Addressing the inaugural session, Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey stated that Madhya Pradesh is rapidly becoming one of the leading states in the country to adopt Artificial Intelligence in governance. He highlighted the state’s progress in integrating AI into administrative functions and noted that IT and renewable energy are among Madhya Pradesh's fastest-growing sectors. He also mentioned that the state is the first in the country to implement e-registrations through the Sampada 2.0 portal, allowing citizens to register properties from their homes. Dubey described the workshop as a crucial step in shaping a future-oriented AI roadmap for the state.
MPSEDC Managing Director Ashish Vashishtha welcomed participants and said that the workshop is more than just a gathering—it is a strategic move to establish Madhya Pradesh as a front-runner in AI-based governance. “We are entering an era where administration will be defined by AI-driven service delivery and smart inclusion,” he remarked.
Kartik Suri, General Manager at India AI, detailed how India AI is fostering innovation through Data and AI Labs and supporting startups nationwide. Dr. Saurabh Mandal from DRDO shared insights on how AI applications are being tailored for smart governance in remote and rural areas, particularly in collaboration with the armed forces.
Ajay Kaul, State Representative of Amazon Web Services (AWS), called AI a “transformative force” capable of reshaping systems beyond its role as a mere technology tool. Meanwhile, Prof. Prashant Salwan of IIM Indore presented an overview of AI's historical development, current implementation, and future potential in both public and private sectors.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Guru Prasad, Project Director at MPSEDC, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and technology stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective AI integration in governance.
On the sidelines of the inaugural session, several dignitaries and experts interacted with participants at the AI Application Experience Zone, where live demonstrations showcased how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to improve service delivery in areas such as citizen grievance redressal, health diagnostics, predictive governance, and digital identity management. The exhibits aimed to make AI concepts more accessible to administrators and policy implementers, highlighting use cases already being piloted in various states.
Participants also engaged in high-level discussions on the role of Aadhaar in digital governance, where experts from UIDAI and state departments explored innovations in e-KYC, authentication, and Aadhaar-enabled service delivery. These sessions aimed to strengthen the foundation for AI-integrated platforms using existing digital identity infrastructure. Speakers emphasized the need for secure, inclusive, and scalable frameworks to ensure that emerging technologies are used responsibly and effectively across all sections of society.
