Chief Secretary Reviews ‘iStart’ and ‘SMART’ Initiatives, Emphasises Innovation-Led Growth

Jaipur, April 2026 : Chief Secretary V. Srinivas on Wednesday conducted a comprehensive review of the ‘iStart’ and ‘SMART’ initiatives being implemented by the Department of Information Technology and Communication at the state secretariat. Highlighting Rajasthan’s rapid transformation, he said the state is emerging as a leading innovation-driven economy.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of building a future-ready, technology-driven economic framework. He referred to significant progress in key sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), renewable energy, solar technology, agritech, rural innovation, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality), and the orange economy. He stressed that these sectors would play a crucial role in shaping Rajasthan’s long-term growth trajectory.

Appreciating the role of the ‘iStart’ initiative, Srinivas said it has significantly strengthened the startup, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the state. He expressed satisfaction over the support being extended under the program, including mentorship, incubation assistance, market linkages, investor connections, policy facilitation, and ecosystem partnerships for startups, innovators, students, and entrepreneurs.

He noted that ‘iStart’ has been instrumental in fostering collaboration among the government, industry, academic institutions, incubators, and innovation stakeholders. Emphasising the need for a robust and integrated support system, he called for the development of a strong institutional network for startups across Rajasthan. He also directed officials to improve linkages among government departments, financial institutions, incubators, educational institutions, and industry partners.

The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of strengthening credit linkage mechanisms to ensure financial support for startups at various stages of growth. He also called for wider promotion of successful startup stories to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and build confidence in the ecosystem.

To ensure inclusive growth, Srinivas directed that the benefits of the innovation ecosystem must reach rural innovators, emerging entrepreneurs, and startups across all regions of the state. He emphasised expanding outreach and engagement activities, including regular workshops, innovation clinics, mentoring sessions, and sector-specific capacity-building programs.

He further instructed officials to organise startup summits, investor connect programs, innovation challenges, and thematic workshops in emerging areas such as AI/ML, AVGC-XR, renewable energy, rural innovation, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These initiatives, he said, would enhance participation from youth, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs.

Highlighting the importance of global positioning, the Chief Secretary said Rajasthan should continue to host and participate in national and international innovation events to establish itself as a prominent startup and technology destination.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the SMART project (Service Management with Artificial Intelligence and Real-Time System). Srinivas appreciated the initiative for leveraging AI and real-time systems to improve the efficiency and delivery of citizen services. Officials presented details on the project’s current status, achievements so far, and future roadmap.

The SMART project aims to automatically identify eligible beneficiaries for various government schemes and deliver benefits seamlessly and within a defined timeframe, eliminating the need for manual applications.

Reiterating his vision for innovation-led development, the Chief Secretary said Rajasthan has already laid a strong foundation for an inclusive and future-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystem. He added that the next phase should focus on scaling up initiatives, strengthening collaboration, and driving long-term economic growth and employment generation through innovation.

Senior officials, including IT and Communication Secretary Dr. Ravi Kumar Surpur and Commissioner Himanshu Gupta, were present at the meeting.