Mumbai: Maharashtra is set to draft its own Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to position the state as a leader in technological advancements and a significant player in the AI sector, Information and Technology Minister Ashish Shelar announced on Tuesday.
The announcement was made during a meeting with IT Department officials at the Sahyadri Guest House, attended by IT Department Secretary Parrag Jaiin Nainutia, MahaIT Managing Director Jayshree Bhoj, and other senior officials.
Shelar emphasized the transformative potential of AI in driving economic growth, attracting businesses, creating employment opportunities, and boosting industries. “The AI era has begun, and Maharashtra must seize this opportunity. By adopting AI, we can drive economic growth, generate jobs for the youth, and strengthen our position in the global AI landscape,” Shelar said in an official statement.
The move aligns with the central government’s India AI Mission, launched earlier this year with a budget of ₹10,372 crore. The initiative aims to enhance the country’s AI capabilities through projects such as the India AI Datasets Platform, innovation centers, application development programs, and support for startups.
Starting January 2025, the central government plans to collect and aggregate non-personal datasets to build a comprehensive database for the India AI Datasets Platform. This resource will provide seamless access to startups, companies, academics, and researchers for developing AI applications and specialized services.
Shelar highlighted the importance of Maharashtra aligning its AI ambitions with this national initiative to maintain its competitive edge. “Maharashtra must take proactive steps to integrate with the India AI Mission to ensure we lead the way in AI innovation and job creation,” he added.
Officials said the draft policy would focus on leveraging AI to advance industries such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and manufacturing, as well as building an ecosystem to support startups and skill development.
Maharashtra’s initiative is expected to complement the central government’s vision of establishing India as a global leader in AI technology.
