Rajasthan Hosts Regional AI Impact Conference, Driving India’s Inclusive and Responsible AI Vision
The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference took place on 6 January 2026, uniting policymakers, industry leaders, startups, and academics to discuss Artificial Intelligence’s growing role in governance, innovation, infrastructure, and workforce development. Serving as a prelude to the upcoming India AI Impact Summit scheduled for 15–20 February 2026, the event reflected India’s commitment to responsible and inclusive AI adoption.
Strengthening Centre–State Collaboration
The conference saw participation from Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw (virtually), Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada, and Rajasthan’s IT and Communication Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore. Senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Rajasthan government also attended, emphasising the state’s vital role in India’s AI-driven growth journey.
Addressing the gathering, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that artificial intelligence would transform society as profoundly as the Industrial Revolution, electricity, and the internet once did. He announced a new national programme to train one million young people in AI skills, ensuring that India’s youth are ready for the technological future.
Jitin Prasada reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of democratising technology. He highlighted the government’s ₹10,000 crore investment under the IndiaAI Mission, aimed at applying AI in agriculture, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability to enhance productivity and improve citizens’ quality of life.
Rajasthan’s Push Towards AI Leadership
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma stated that Rajasthan is moving beyond e-governance to become a national leader in AI and machine learning. The state’s new AI and ML Policy 2026 aims to promote transparency, fairness, and accountability while using AI to make public service delivery faster, more citizen-centric, and efficient. He added that the policy would drive innovation and foster economic growth.
Key launches at the conference included the YUVA AI for All initiative—a national AI literacy campaign under the IndiaAI Mission. This programme encourages students and youth to complete a short Foundational AI course, promoting mass AI awareness aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Other major unveilings included the Rajasthan AI/ML Policy 2026, the Rajasthan AI Portal, the iStart Learning Management System (LMS) for skills and entrepreneurship, and the Rajasthan AVGC-XR Portal, supporting the animation, gaming, and extended reality sectors.
Strengthening AI Research and Innovation
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Google, IIT Delhi, National Law University Jodhpur, and the Wadhwani Foundation to strengthen AI research, skilling, and ethical development.
A high-level dialogue between MeitY Additional Secretary and IndiaAI CEO Abhishek Singh and NVIDIA’s South Asia Managing Director Vishal Dhupar explored strategies for democratising AI infrastructure and advancing responsible AI.
Kavita Bhatia, Scientist ‘G’ and COO of the IndiaAI Mission, presented the mission’s vision and introduced priorities for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The event also featured academic insights from IIT Jodhpur’s Professor Avinash Sharma on regional AI innovation and thematic sessions discussing AI’s applications in governance, ethics, infrastructure, and employment.
The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference marked a significant milestone on India’s path toward AI for public good, inclusive growth, and sustainable regional development.
with inputs from Reuters