Maharashtra is positioning itself as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) through a new policy that aligns with the Central Government's India AI Mission, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

Minister for Information Technology, Ashish Shelar, emphasized the critical role of AI in expanding India's digital economy, which is currently valued at $600 billion.

To spearhead this initiative, the state has established the AI Policy Taskforce, consisting of 16 members, tasked with developing the AI Policy 2025.

The task force is led by the Director of the Maharashtra Information Technology Directorate and includes experts from both the private sector and government.

These efforts are part of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government's 100-day action plan, which aims to enhance the state's digital capabilities and technological advancement.

Maharashtra is already home to over 25,000 start-ups, leading in investment and valuation, and has recently surpassed Bengaluru to become India's startup capital.

India's startup ecosystem has grown significantly, now ranking as the third-largest globally with over 157,000 start-ups, a remarkable increase from just 471 in 2016.

In support of this growth, Fadnavis announced a partnership with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to create a Rs 100-crore fund aimed at supporting start-ups in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Fadnavis is also seeking input for a new start-up policy, which he expects to finalize in two months, positioning it as the most progressive in India.

The India AI Mission, with a budget of Rs 10,372 crore, focuses on enhancing AI capabilities through various initiatives, including application development and skill development.

In addition to AI initiatives, a Cybersecurity Taskforce has been established to create a framework for protecting critical digital assets and mitigating cyber threats.

The forthcoming Cyber Security Policy will address rising cybercrime threats and ensure secure digital services for citizens and various sectors.