As India advances its vision of data-driven and outcome-oriented governance, Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in public administration. With national initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission and the National Data and Analytics Platform laying the foundation for responsible and scalable AI adoption, states are increasingly integrating advanced analytics into planning, monitoring, and fiscal management. In this conversation, Rishi Garg, IAS, Member Secretary of the State Planning Board and Commissioner of Economics & Statistics, Government of Madhya Pradesh, outlines to Muskan Jaiswal of Elets News Network how AI can reshape evidence-based policymaking, enable predictive governance, and strengthen long-term development strategy at the state level.

How AI will transform evidence-based governance and policymaking in India over the next five years

Over the next five years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will strengthen evidence-based governance in India by making policymaking more data-driven, timely, and outcome-focused.

Instead of relying only on periodic surveys and reports, AI will help governments use real-time and integrated data to better understand and correlate ground realities. This will improve policy design, enable early identification of risks, and support faster corrective actions. Predictive analytics and automated monitoring systems can enhance scheme performance, reduce leakages, and improve service delivery.

National initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission and the National AI Portal (INDIAai) are building the necessary ecosystem—by expanding computing access, supporting research, and promoting responsible AI adoption across sectors. India’s approach emphasizes inclusion, affordability, transparency, and ethical use of AI, ensuring that technology supports public welfare.

How AI can enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and early-warning systems for programmes

The National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in India is a government-endorsed policy document published by NITI Aayog. The National Strategy for AI by NITI Aayog highlights AI’s transformative role in almost every sector by enhancing efficiency, predictive capacity, and decision support in governance. The IndiaAI Mission further emphasizes real-time data use, advanced analytics, and scalable solutions across boundaries and sectors.

For a state like Madhya Pradesh, AI-driven predictive analytics can help provide support to vulnerable districts or population groups facing risks such as malnutrition, groundwater stress, or fiscal pressures. By integrating administrative data with satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and socio-economic indicators, AI-based early warning systems can generate timely alerts supporting proactive, evidence-based policy interventions.

A flagship AI/data-driven initiative that governments are using or can replicate

At the national level, the IndiaAI Mission, is the Government of India’s flagship integrated programme for AI innovation and deployment across sectors. Its goals include improving data quality, supporting indigenous AI capabilities, and enabling socially impactful AI applications.

Simultaneously, the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) developed by NITI Aayog provides a multi-layered analytics environment combining district- and state-level datasets from different Ministries to support policy research and evidence-based discussions.

States can adapt these accessibility interoperability, and government-endorsed platforms to build integrated monitoring, predictive analytics, and planning tools, reducing redundancy and strengthening statistical infrastructure.

Why data standardisation and interoperability are vital for meaningful AI adoption?

Data standardisation, interoperability, and quality assurance are foundational prerequisites for meaningful AI adoption in government. AI systems are only as reliable as the model being trained. Without common definitions, interoperable platforms, and robust validation protocols, AI risks amplifying inconsistencies.

In Madhya Pradesh, strengthening data governance through uniform indicator definitions, metadata standards, and cross-departmental data sharing protocols is a strategic priority. Ensuring high-quality, machine-readable data allows AI tools to generate credible forecasts, comparisons, and policy simulations. In essence, data governance is as important as digital infrastructure for successful AI-driven planning.

How states like Madhya Pradesh can leverage AI for long-term planning and fiscal prioritisation?

AI can significantly enhance long-term development planning by enabling scenario modelling, fiscal stress testing, and outcome-based budgeting. For Madhya Pradesh, AI can help simulate the long-term impacts of demographic change, climate variability, urbanisation, and sectoral investments on growth and human development outcomes.

By linking expenditure data with outcome indicators, AI can support evidence-based fiscal prioritisation, ensuring that public resources are directed toward interventions with the highest social and economic returns.

How planning and statistics departments contribute to India’s national AI mission and digital governance?

The Planning, Economics, and Statistics Departments play a critical role in ensuring the availability of credible datasets and robust validation frameworks—both of which are foundational pillars for effective AI adoption across government functions.

These capabilities are essential for strengthening data integrity, improving analytical rigor, and enabling evidence-based decision-making within government systems.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh as a Testbed For AI In Infrastructure

Similarly, the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) under NITI Aayog is designed to democratize access to authoritative data, enabling departments to use analytical insights for planning and evaluation.

This structural integration of planning, statistics, and AI echoes the Government’s broader digital strategy: to transition from siloed information flows to interoperable, insight-driven governance.

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