MP Hosts Regional AI Impact Conference In Bhopal
The conference forms part of a nationwide series of eight regional events leading up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 16–20 February.
A key highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the IndiaAI Mission and the Government of Madhya Pradesh to expand access to AI education and skilling across the state. Under the partnership, 30 Data and AI Labs will be established across Madhya Pradesh as part of the national plan to set up 570 such labs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
The event also witnessed multiple announcements and launches, including four new citizen-centric digital portals and MoUs with organisations such as Youngovator, CEEW, Google, nasscom, AISECT and BHASHINI. Another major development was the launch of the Madhya Pradesh SpaceTech Policy 2026 by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The policy aims to promote satellite manufacturing, geospatial analysis and downstream applications across agriculture, disaster management and urban planning, reinforcing the state’s ambition to integrate AI with space technologies for economic growth and public service delivery.
In his address, Dr Mohan Yadav said the state government is committed to supporting the AI ecosystem through strong policy backing to enhance efficiency across sectors including mining, healthcare and governance. He reiterated Madhya Pradesh’s commitment to contributing to India’s AI-driven growth.
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and CEO of IndiaAI Mission, highlighted India’s leadership in digital governance through platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI and India Stack, stating that IndiaAI will build on these foundations to shape the global AI ecosystem while ensuring inclusive benefits.
Chief Secretary Anurag Jain noted that Madhya Pradesh’s AI priorities are closely aligned with national goals and stressed that AI will play a critical role in the state’s long-term prosperity. Startup pitch sessions and exhibitions during the conference provided insights into emerging AI innovations from the region.
The conference also announced winners of the MP Innotech Contest and the Ujjain Mahakumbh Hackathon, reflecting strong participation from innovators and technology-driven startups. A roadmap presentation titled “AI for People, Planet and Progress” outlined Madhya Pradesh’s strategy for deploying AI across governance and socio-economic development.
Detailed sessions on the IndiaAI Mission were delivered by senior MeitY and FutureSkills officials, covering strategic pillars such as compute capacity, data platforms, AI applications, skilling, startup support and responsible AI frameworks.
Panel discussions focused on technology-led governance, AI for social and economic impact, and innovation for resilience and efficiency. Experts from government, academia and industry shared scalable use cases across agriculture, education, public services and digital inclusion.
Insights from the Bhopal conference are expected to contribute significantly to national-level deliberations at the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026.