According to MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, these efforts are a crucial step in ensuring that government platforms are the primary point of contact for citizens, both nationally and globally

In an endeavour to modernize its digital infrastructure and improve government communication, the Centre has rolled out a series of transformative initiatives, including the revamp of official websites and the creation of a multilingual AI hub. These efforts align with the country’s vision of Digital India and Digital Bharat, aimed at making government schemes and initiatives more accessible and engaging to a diverse population.

On February 18, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Digital Brand Identity Manual, a comprehensive guide to standardizing the design of government websites. This initiative is part of a broader push to create a unified and accessible digital presence for the government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong advocate for improving the government’s digital platforms, urging Ministry Secretaries to enhance their websites during a recent meeting. According to MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, these efforts are a crucial step in ensuring that government platforms are the primary point of contact for citizens, both nationally and globally.

Revamping digital governance

The Digital Brand Identity Manual seeks to provide a cohesive online experience, ensuring that government websites are not only user-friendly but also engaging. This initiative is a key part of India’s ongoing commitment to a Digital Bharat, where digital platforms are seen as essential tools for governance, public engagement, and international interaction.

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In parallel, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working on the establishment of a multilingual AI hub, designed to improve the efficiency of disseminating information about various government schemes and projects. This platform will feature advanced AI tools, including multilingual translation capabilities, to cater to the country’s diverse linguistic needs. The Multilingual AI Hub is expected to play a pivotal role in the effective outreach of government initiatives across India’s vast population. While still in development, it holds significant promise for transforming the way government communicates with citizens.

Additionally, a number of AI-driven initiatives are being launched, including Digital India Bhashini, a language translation platform that aims to bridge communication gaps across languages; BharatGen, a groundbreaking multimodal large language model (LLM) initiative; and Sarvam-1, another AI language model. Chitralekha, an open-source video transcreation platform, and Everest 1.0, a multilingual AI system supporting various Indian languages, further bolster India’s growing AI capabilities.

India’s AI revolution begins

To foster a skilled workforce in AI, the government is expanding AI education through undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs. Fellowships are being provided to top Ph.D. scholars researching AI, while data and AI labs are being set up in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to offer foundational courses. This is part of India’s broader strategy to take full advantage of India’s AI boom, positioning itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Recent reports highlight India’s leadership in AI innovation. According to the Stanford AI Index 2024, India ranks first globally in AI skill penetration, surpassing the United States and Germany. With a 263% growth in AI talent concentration since 2016, India is quickly becoming a hub for AI development. The India Skills Report 2024 projects that the AI industry will reach a valuation of $28.8 billion by 2025, with the country experiencing a 14-fold increase in AI talent between 2016 and 2023.

India’s AI adoption is growing rapidly, with 80% of Indian companies identifying AI as a core strategic priority, according to a recent BCG report. Supported by over 520 tech incubators and accelerators, India’s technological ecosystem is set to continue its impressive rise, reinforcing the nation’s role as a key player in the global AI boom.

These forward-looking initiatives reflect India’s determination to use digital technology and AI to drive governance, innovation, and economic growth, ultimately bringing the vision of Digital Bharat closer to reality.