The Information Technology (IT) Department of the Assam government has taken a landmark step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google Cloud to integrate Artificial Intelligence into state administration. The agreement, executed at a program held at Hotel Vivanta in Guwahati, aims to leverage AI for improved governance, transparency, and public service delivery across the North East region.
Key Highlights of the Agreement
The partnership is focused on two primary strategic goals: developing AI capabilities within the government and establishing Assam as a hub for ethical AI-driven governance.
1. Establishment of an AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE)
Goal: To establish an ‘Artificial Intelligence Excellence Center’ (AI Center of Excellence) for administration in the state.
- Function: The AI CoE will serve as a dedicated hub for developing AI-based solutions, prototypes, and applications to make the state government’s administrative system more effective and citizen-oriented.
- Partners: The Center is being established in collaboration with Google Cloud and their implementation partner, Paradigm IT.
- 2. Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building
AI Development: Google Cloud will provide essential technical cooperation to various Assam government departments to develop AI capabilities. - Efficiency and Speed: The use of AI is targeted at increasing the performance and efficiency of officers and ensuring the smooth and quick distribution of government services to citizens, thereby improving urgency and transparency.
- Workforce Skilling: The agreement includes capacity-building programs to enhance the AI skills of the state’s workforce, including young engineers and administrators, aligning with the upcoming Assam AI-IT Policy, 2025.
- Vision: The ‘AI-First Strategy’
The initiative is part of the state government’s broader ‘AI-First Strategy’ adopted under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The vision is to acquire the necessary technical capabilities and infrastructure to position Assam as ‘India’s AI Hub’ in the North East for ethical AI-driven governance and inclusive development.
👥 Dignitaries at the Assam Govt-Google Cloud AI Agreement Execution
The program, held at Hotel Vivanta in Guwahati, saw the participation of high-ranking officials from the Government of Assam and representatives from Google Cloud and its partner:
Government of Assam Officials
- Dr. Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary
- Mr. B Kalyan Chakraborty, Additional Chief Secretary
- Mr. Mukesh Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary
- Mr. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department
- Mrs. Nandita Dutta, Secretary
Google Cloud & Partner Officials
- Mr. Ashish Wattal, Director and Country Head, Google Cloud
- Mr. Safe Oberoi, Chief Security Advisor and Head of Public Sector, Google Cloud
- Mr. Pankaj Shukla, Head of Customer Engineering, Public Sector, Google Cloud
- Mr. Binamra Jain, Accounts Director for Assam, Google Cloud
- Mr. Karthik Krishnan, Chief Operating Officer, Paradigm IT
- Mr. Jignesh Talasia, Lead for AI Center of Excellence
This high-level attendance underscores the state’s serious commitment to establishing itself as ‘India’s AI Hub’ in the North East region.
The Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and IT Minister Keshab Mahanta have hailed the agreement as a historic step for Assam’s future, promising that every department will be aided in serving the state’s residents with greater efficiency.
