Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that emphasis is being placed on building an efficient digital public infrastructure by increasing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance. Participating in a seminar organised in Mumbai as part of the NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum 2026, Mr Fadnavis said AI is rapidly changing the dynamics of traditional employment, and accordingly, the state administration is taking steps to make effective use of AI in government-related services.
Stating that Maharashtra can move forward faster in the field of ‘AI’ if the government, educational institutions and industry associations like NASSCOM work together, Mr Fadnavis said the state is planning a workshop for all educational institutes to apprise them of the change in the nature of employment opportunities and the necessary skill development required by the industry. He added that work is also underway to prepare a separate policy to increase the use of AI in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector.
Talking about the use of AI in agriculture, the Chief Minister said the state is collecting information on every farmer under the Agristack initiative, along with their landholding and crop cultivation information. He said a personal digital assistant is being provided to every registered farmer using the AI app ‘Mahavistar’, and the aim is to reduce the cost of production by 25 to 40%.
Refuting fears that AI will destroy jobs, Mr Fadnavis said similar fears were expressed during the computer revolution. However, India took advantage of that revolution and made a big leap in the IT sector. The Chief Minister said AI must also be viewed as an opportunity to register further progress.
