Jaipur, July 2 — The 29th National e-Governance Conference (NeGC) concluded on Thursday at the Rajasthan International Centre, with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh urging governments to not only adopt artificial intelligence but to use it intelligently to strengthen governance. The valedictory session also included the National e-Governance Awards 2026 and the formal release of the Jaipur Declaration, which outlines the conference’s recommendations for technology-enabled governance in India.
Speaking at the ceremony, MoS Jitendra Singh congratulated organisers and highlighted broad participation from all states and Union Territories, saying this made the event more comprehensive and impactful. He credited the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with taking a futuristic approach by leveraging emerging technologies to improve transparency, efficiency and public service delivery, and noted that repealing obsolete laws has simplified administrative processes.
Singh pointed to reforms such as Mission Karmayogi and the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) as examples of India’s governance innovations now being adopted abroad, mentioning countries including Mauritius, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and South Africa. He warned that technological change is rapid-citing VCRs and STD booths as examples of obsolescence-and urged states to set short-term, measurable milestones rather than focus only on the long-term India@2047 vision. On AI, he said: “The challenge is not merely adopting AI but using it wisely. Human intervention will continue to remain crucial alongside technological advancement.”
Rajasthan Information Technology and Communication Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore described the conference as the start of a transformative journey toward “responsible and inclusive AI” and said technology must ensure benefits reach every section of society. He said the event provided a roadmap for more efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance and announced that promising models discussed at the conference will be studied and piloted across Rajasthan districts.
Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said e-governance has evolved beyond managing systems to “managing possibilities,” aligning with the government’s vision. The two-day conference featured around 200 experts and speakers, showcased nearly 100 digital platforms and technology solutions, and aimed to bridge the gap between governments and citizens through digital empowerment.
Union Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma noted that the National e-Governance Awards attracted nominations from nearly 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats, underscoring the spread of innovation into rural India. The awards recognised outstanding digital governance initiatives and signalled a nationwide shift toward technology-enabled, citizen-centric administration.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/07/02/dont-just-adopt-ai-use-it-intelligently-says-jitendra-singh/
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Publish Date: 2026-07-02 20:56:00
