Gujarat’s AI Mission Aims To Be India's Blueprint

A Mission Steering Committee, chaired by the state Chief Secretary, along with a Mission Execution Cell and a Nodal Agency, has been formed. Representatives from industry and academic institutions will also be part of the committee.

R C Desai, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), released a comprehensive document for the five-year roadmap, which is based on six key pillars: Data governance, infrastructure, capacity building, research and use cases, startup ecosystem, and safe and trusted AI. 

The roadmap aims to make Gujarat a model state in AI-driven governance and industrial growth. Citizens will benefit from faster, more efficient, and transparent services, while industries will gain a competitive edge globally.

Desai also emphasised that AI will always be used for the benefit of citizens. Both rural and urban communities, as well as small and large industries, will benefit. Partnerships will be ensured among the government, industry, startups, and academic institutions.

Data privacy, ethical AI, and bias-free systems will encourage innovation and promote sustainable long-term development. For this mission, the Centre will provide support of Rs 990 crore.

Institutional Framework For AI Implementation

A state-level AI Mission Steering Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Senior departmental officials and academic experts will monitor the action plan, make policy decisions, and promote interdepartmental collaboration.

The Science and Technology Department has also set up a Mission Executive Cell, which, through a Programme Management Unit, will provide technical and financial support. Additionally, each government department will have a designated nodal officer. An annual report on the activities will be published.

How AI Implementation Will Progress

First Year:

• A data governance framework will be prepared
• A specific central dataset repository will be established
• Request for proposals (RPFs) will be issued for AI chatbots and a primary Gujarati LLM (large language model)
• Pilot AI curriculum will be introduced in academic institutions

Second Year:

• More government departments will adopt AI pilot projects
• Training for the Gujarati LLM will begin
• Pilot AI factories will be set up in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
• AI Innovation Challenge will be organised for startups

Third Year:

• Specialised LLMs will be developed for fintech and biotech
• AI-based toolkits and solutions will be launched for MSMEs
• Statewide AI training programmes will be widely implemented
• Gujarat will be recognised as a model state for AI-based governance

Fourth Year:

• Full rollout of AI factories in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
• Global market access programs will be launched for DeepTech startups
• An AI audit framework will be implemented
• The Gujarat AI Ethics Index will be introduced at the pilot stage

Fifth Year:

• Gujarat will be established as a Global AI innovation hub
• International AI research collaborations will begin
• Full-scale implementation of AI-based governance systems across the state
• AI Ethics Index will be fully implemented

Expected Outcomes:

• Citizen-government interaction will become easier through chatbots and smart applications
• Policymaking will become more accurate with AI-based decision-making
• MSMEs and industries will adopt AI solutions, strengthening global competitiveness
• Gujarat will emerge as a hub for AI and DeepTech startups
• AI curriculum will be introduced in schools and colleges
• A Gujarati LLM will be developed, along with specialised models for fintech, biotech, and healthcare

Launch of AI Mission In 10 States

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the “IndiaAI Mission” in March 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,300 crore. The primary objectives are to strengthen AI computing capacity, encourage startups, and focus on citizen-centric applications, with the overall goal to make India a global hub for AI.

So far, 10 states — Telangana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa — have launched their respective AI missions.