The Government of Assam has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to accelerate digital transformation across the state, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, speed, and transparency in public administration. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary of the IT Department, and Ashish Wattal, Director and Country Head of Google Cloud, in the presence of Assam’s IT Minister Keshab Mahanta in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Keshab Mahanta emphasized that the collaboration marks a pivotal move toward ethical and responsible AI adoption in governance. “The agreement provides us with a framework to develop AI capabilities within the government, enhance skills among officials and students, and conduct pilot projects in areas where AI can offer value,” he said. The initiative will also establish an AI Centre of Excellence for governance in collaboration with Google and its implementation partner Paradigm IT, creating a foundation for scalable innovation.
The partnership’s core objective is to build robust frameworks for AI governance, supported by ethical guidelines that promote transparency, accountability, and equity. The state envisions AI as an enabler for citizen-centric governance, improving service delivery, policy design, and decision-making through intelligent data analysis and automation.
Mahanta further highlighted that the initiative will ensure AI becomes a “guardian of trust, privacy and equity,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing algorithmic biases, ensuring data sovereignty, and safeguarding citizen rights while encouraging innovation for social and economic development.
As Assam prepares to unveil its AI-IT Policy 2025, this collaboration is expected to be a cornerstone in positioning the state as the AI hub of Northeast India. The partnership will focus on capacity building, AI literacy, and the deployment of pilot projects across key sectors such as education, agriculture, and public administration, aligning with the broader national vision of Digital India.
Mahanta lauded Google’s commitment to inclusive AI development, stating, “Your global leadership in AI, combined with a deep understanding of India’s diverse needs, makes you the ideal partner in this endeavour.” The Assam-Google partnership thus marks a defining moment in the state’s journey toward AI-powered, transparent, and citizen-first governance.
