‘Kumbhdoot’ Agentic AI Concept Presented at India AI Impact Summit 2026; Phased Use of Technology Ahead of Simhastha 2027

New Delhi / Nashik, February 2026: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi today, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was presented with an innovative agentic AI–based concept titled ‘Kumbhdoot’. The concept has been designed to provide seamless guidance and assistance to devotees attending the Simhastha Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik. The system is proposed to be implemented in a phased manner in the run-up to Simhastha 2027.

The presentation outlined how the ‘Kumbhdoot’ platform will leverage advanced technology to enhance the overall experience of pilgrims by offering personalized support services, ensuring better coordination, convenience, and safety during the mega religious congregation.

The event was attended by Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar, Ports Development and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, IT Department Secretary Virendra Singh, the Nashik Divisional Commissioner, Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority Chairman Dr. Praveen Gedam, Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner Shekhar Singh, along with senior officials and technology experts.

The ‘Kumbhdoot’ concept is based on the “Agentic Kumbh” model. In simple terms, every registered devotee attending Simhastha 2027 will be provided with a personal AI assistant called Kumbhdoot. This AI assistant will guide pilgrims on travel arrangements, accommodation, ghat locations, emergency assistance, digital payments, language translation, and other essential services.

What does “Agentic” mean?
Agentic technology refers to systems in which each individual is supported by a personal digital assistant—an AI agent—that can act on the user’s behalf. This assistant coordinates with government departments, healthcare services, transport systems, and local vendors, strictly with the devotee’s consent and while ensuring data privacy. Importantly, no centralized personal data repository will be created under this system.

The Kumbhdoot AI assistant will be capable of operating in more than 20 Indian languages. Services will be accessible not only via smartphones but also through basic feature phones using voice calls through an IVR system. This ensures that elderly devotees and those without digital literacy can also receive information easily through voice-based support.

The system also proposes an optional ‘Kumbh Pass’, which will be securely stored in DigiLocker. This digital pass will simplify entry processes, access to services, and emergency assistance during the event.

The entire platform will be built on India’s Digital Public Infrastructure. Integration with UPI for payments, health records, merchant services, and DigiLocker will be part of the ecosystem. However, personal data will not be stored centrally; all information will be used only for a limited duration and strictly with the devotee’s consent.

The system is designed to handle up to one crore devotees and manage millions of digital agents during the Simhastha period. Prior to Simhastha 2027, a pilot project involving 10,000 participants will be implemented across colleges in Nashik.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Simhastha 2027 will represent a confluence of faith and modern technology. The Agentic Kumbh concept will position Maharashtra as a leader in responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence.”

Nashik Divisional Commissioner and Kumbh Mela Authority Chairman Dr. Praveen Gedam noted that Simhastha is one of the world’s largest peaceful religious gatherings and requires visionary planning and coordination. He stated that the Agentic Kumbh model would enable more accurate planning based on aggregated demand signals while preserving privacy, thereby strengthening inter-departmental coordination and service delivery in a transparent and balanced manner.

Kumbh Mela Authority Commissioner Shekhar Singh added that the initiative would ensure personalized assistance for every devotee. Language barriers, lack of information, and crowd-related confusion would be significantly reduced, emphasizing that the system is designed for coordination and facilitation—not surveillance.

Key Features of the ‘Kumbhdoot’ Agentic AI Concept:

• Personal AI assistant for every registered devotee
• Voice-based services in over 20 Indian languages
• Access via smartphones, feature phones (voice calls), and kiosks
• Optional ‘Kumbh Pass’ securely stored in DigiLocker
• Easy digital payments through UPI
• Guidance on travel, accommodation, ghats, healthcare, and emergencies
• Digital coordination with government departments, health services, and merchants
• Privacy-preserving, consent-driven architecture
• Pilot project with 10,000 participants ahead of Simhastha 2027

The ‘Kumbhdoot’ initiative marks a significant step toward blending tradition with technology, setting a new benchmark for managing large-scale religious events through ethical and citizen-centric AI solutions.