In a decisive step toward enabling multilingual digital inclusion, the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Puducherry to empower citizens through language technology and foster governance that speaks every language—starting with Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and extending to other regional Indian languages.

This transformative collaboration aims to embed BHASHINI's cutting-edge language technology into Puducherry's e-governance ecosystem—unlocking seamless access to digital services in native languages and fostering equitable participation in the digital age.

The MoU signing ceremony took place at Hotel Accord, Puducherry on July 8, 2025, in the esteemed presence of:

• Shri K. Kailashnathan,  Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
• Shri. Emblem R. Selvam, Hon’ble Speaker of Legislative Assembly
• Dr. Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary to Government
• Smt. A. Muthamma, Secretary (IT), Puducherry
• Shri Shivraj Meena, Director of Information Technology, Puducherry
• Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO, Digital India BHASHINI Division, Director IndiaAI (India Dataset Platform & AIKosh) & Application Development Initiative
• Senior officials from DIBD and the Government of Puducherry

The initiative reflects a shared vision to make governance more inclusive, voice-first, citizen-centric, and accessible—while honoring Puducherry's rich linguistic and cultural diversity through integration of language technology.

Shri K. Kailashnathan, IAS, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, highlighted: "BHASHINI, the Bhasha Interface for India, is a transformative step towards ensuring that no citizen is left behind due to a language barrier. I was deeply moved during a recent address by the Honourable Prime Minister and felt strongly that such inspiring messages must reach every citizen in their own language. Going forward, it is our endeavour that such inspiring messages are made accessible in Tamil through BHASHINI, enabling the people of Puducherry to connect meaningfully with the country’s leadership.."

Shri. Emblem R. Selvam, Hon’ble Speaker of Legislative Assembly, emphasized: "The Digital India initiatives led by the Honourable Prime Minister,  including UPI, digital banking, and widespread digital transactions, have transformed the way citizens engage with services. In this journey, BHASHINI adds a crucial layer of accessibility by enabling people to interact with digital platforms in their own language. This integration of multilingual technology with digital banking holds great potential to empower every citizen, especially those from linguistically diverse backgrounds."

Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO, Digital India BHASHINI Division, emphasized: "Our partnership with Puducherry represents a significant milestone in our mission to build a linguistically inclusive digital India. Together, we are building the foundation for a truly multilingual digital ecosystem that preserves cultural diversity while promoting digital inclusion."

Smt. A. Muthamma, Secretary (IT), Puducherry, emphasized: "The integration of BHASHINI's language technology into our e-governance framework will revolutionize how citizens interact with government services. This collaboration will enable us to deliver more personalized, accessible, and efficient digital services in local languages that respect and celebrate our multicultural identity while ensuring no citizen is left behind due to language constraints."

Shri Shivraj Meena, Director of Information Technology, Puducherry, emphasized: "This strategic partnership will transform our digital infrastructure by making it truly multilingual and voice-enabled. We are committed to leveraging BHASHINI's advanced AI capabilities to create seamless, intuitive digital experiences for our citizens. This initiative will serve as a model for other states in implementing inclusive digital governance solutions."

 

The strategic partnership aims to achieve:

• Enhanced Citizen Services – AI-enabled multilingual access to schemes, benefits, and public information for inclusive service delivery
• Inclusive Digital Governance – Eliminate language barriers in accessing e-services and build trust through localized content
• Preservation of Linguistic Heritage – Digitally preserve and promote Puducherry's multilingual identity
• AI-Driven Language Models – Collaborate on regional datasets and AI language tools tailored to Puducherry's linguistic diversity
• Capacity Building – Empower departments with training and tools to integrate language technology across services

BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop: Building Comprehensive Language Technology Framework

To support the implementation of this strategic collaboration, a BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop was conducted at the Hotel Accord, Puducherry. The workshop brought together department heads, state officials, and technical experts to facilitate comprehensive knowledge exchange and capacity building.

The workshop focused on four key pillars that form the foundation of BHASHINI's multilingual digital governance framework:

1. BHASHINI Udyat: Integration of multilingual translation APIs into government platforms to enable service delivery in 22+ regional languages.
2. BHASHINI Mitra: Development and adaptation of domain-specific translation models to enhance language accessibility in government services.
3. BHASHINI Appmitra: Deployment of language tools to improve communication and documentation in regional languages.
4. BHASHINI Pravakta: Promotion and outreach of BHASHINI services to foster digital inclusion and linguistic diversity across educational and administrative ecosystems.

This collaboration marks a significant chapter in the Digital India BHASHINI mission, aimed at building a digitally inclusive and linguistically empowered India. It represents the shared vision of DIBD and the Government of Puducherry to ensure that no citizen is left behind due to language barriers—bringing governance closer to the people, in the language they understand best.

The partnership establishes Puducherry as a pioneer in multilingual digital governance, setting a precedent for other states and union territories to follow. By combining technological innovation with cultural sensitivity, this initiative demonstrates how digital transformation can be achieved while preserving and celebrating linguistic diversity.

     

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SMB/RJ/DL

(Release ID: 2143581)