Maharashtra is set to draft its first independent Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to position itself as a leader in technological advancements and innovation, announced State Information and Technology Minister Ashish Shelar.
During a meeting with IT Department officials, Shelar directed authorities to expedite the policy framework. Key attendees included IT Secretary Parrag Jaiin Nainutia and MahaIT Managing Director Jayshree Bhoj. The minister emphasized that adopting AI could boost industries, attract investments, and generate employment.
“The AI era is here. Maharashtra must seize this opportunity to drive economic growth and strengthen its global position in AI,” Shelar stated.
The India AI Mission, launched last year by the central government with a budget of ₹10,372 crore, aims to strengthen the nation’s AI ecosystem. Key initiatives under the mission include the India AI Datasets Platform, programs for application development, investment in graphic processing units, establishment of innovation centres, skill development efforts, and support for AI-focused startups, according to the statement.
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Minister Ashish Shelar highlighted the importance of Maharashtra aligning its AI goals with this national initiative to maintain a competitive edge. Starting January 2025, the central government will begin aggregating non-personal datasets to create a robust database for the India AI Datasets Platform. This resource will provide startups, enterprises, researchers, and academics with seamless access to data for developing AI-driven applications and specialized services, the statement added.