India’s governance system is undergoing a historic evolution as technology takes hold. Kerala did it a day ago. Now neighboring Tamil Nadu has also created a separate ministry for ‘artificial intelligence’ or AI.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet on Thursday. And in that expanded list, the scope of the state’s IT department has been expanded and renamed as ‘Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services’.
23 new MLAs have been appointed as ministers. The total number of members of the Vijay Cabinet increased from 10 to 32, including the Chief Minister, who assumed the new charge today. Two Congress MLAs took oath as ministers. One of the IUML members will take the oath later. There are four women ministers in the new cabinet. But the biggest surprise in Vijay’s cabinet was the creation of a separate ministry for ‘artificial intelligence’.
And Kumar has been given charge of the newly formed Hi-Tech Department. The department will mainly focus on sound policy making on artificial intelligence, digital governance and commercial use of cutting-edge technologies.
Just a day earlier, the new UDF government in Kerala also issued a notification in the official gazette announcing the creation of an AI ministry as the first state in India. Senior IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty has been given charge of this new AI division as well as Industry & Commerce and Information Technology.
According to technology experts, the trend among states in India is very positive. Creating a separate ministry for AI instead of keeping it as a minor wing under the IT department will further accelerate the digital transformation of the Indian administration.
Some experts feel that other states in the country may follow the lead shown by these two South Indian states and adopt this technology-based governance model in the future.
