AI INITIATIVES IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Arunachal Pradesh is not usually counted among the Indian states leading large-scale conversations on artificial intelligence. There have been no sweeping declarations about building an “AI hub,” and the state has not yet introduced a dedicated AI policy or regulatory framework. Instead, its engagement with AI has been gradual and largely tied to practical governance needs. Much like other developing digital ecosystems, the emphasis has first been on improving digital infrastructure and experimenting with technology in areas where it can solve everyday administrative and development challenges.
The early push came through broader e-governance reforms. In 2022–23, the state declared a “Year of e-Governance,” launching a range of digital projects aimed at improving service delivery and digitising administrative processes. These initiatives helped move government workflows and citizen services onto digital platforms. While these steps were primarily framed as governance reforms, they also created the data systems and digital environment necessary for the later use of AI and other emerging technologies.
By 2024, the state began exploring the use of advanced technologies more directly. Capacity-building efforts were introduced through workshops organised by the National e-Governance Division to familiarise government officials with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related digital tools. At the same time, universities and technical institutions in the state started collaborating on digital literacy and research programmes that included areas such as AI, Internet of Things, and emerging technologies. These initiatives were intended to prepare both administrators and students for a technology-driven governance environment.
AI and related technologies have also appeared through sector-specific pilot projects. In agriculture, projects using drones, geospatial mapping, and AI-based analytics have been explored to help farmers detect crop diseases, monitor soil and crop health, and improve yield predictions in difficult hill terrains. Similar drone technologies have been used in livestock management, where pilot projects enabled the delivery of vaccines to remote pastoral areas that are otherwise difficult to access. These initiatives reflect the state’s attempt to use technology to overcome geographic constraints and improve service delivery in remote communities.
Healthcare and governance have also seen early experimentation with emerging technologies. A drone port was launched at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences to support medical logistics, aerial mapping, and tele-health outreach. At the administrative level, the state introduced a generative-AI system to assist in analysing Monthly Development Reports across departments, marking one of the first instances of AI being used to support internal governance processes.
More recently, technology initiatives have expanded into social and security sectors as well. AI-enabled cameras and surveillance systems have been proposed for towns and key checkpoints to strengthen monitoring and public safety. Educational initiatives have also begun incorporating AI tools, including projects aimed at supporting social-emotional learning and preserving regional languages through AI-based language technologies. These efforts reflect an attempt to combine technological adoption with the cultural and educational priorities of the state.