Maharashtra to Lead AI Revolution in India and Globally: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, May 2026 : Maharashtra is fully prepared to lead the artificial intelligence revolution and will emerge as a global leader in AI in the coming years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the ‘Mumbai Tech Week 2026’ at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. During an interactive session at the event, the Chief Minister responded to questions on technology, innovation, and Maharashtra’s growing digital ecosystem.

“Maharashtra is in a very strong position to lead the AI revolution. Mumbai’s financial strength, technological expertise, robust startup ecosystem, and readiness to adopt new technologies will ensure that Maharashtra not only leads India but also becomes a global leader in artificial intelligence,” Fadnavis said.

The event was attended by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, senior officials, entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, and representatives of global technology companies.

The Chief Minister said the Maharashtra government has set an ambitious roadmap for the AI sector, including ₹10,000 crore in AI investments, creation of 1.5 lakh jobs, establishment of six Centres of Excellence, and dedicated AI innovation zones.

To strengthen research and innovation, the state is developing a “Compute-as-a-Service” facility that will provide 2,000 GPUs to startups and researchers. “High-performance computing is expensive, and lack of access often slows innovation. Maharashtra is directly providing this infrastructure,” he said.

Fadnavis emphasized that while governments can create policy frameworks, true innovation is driven by entrepreneurs. He recalled the formation of a tech entrepreneurs’ association in December 2022 and said its early energy indicated the scale of growth ahead.

He noted that Maharashtra has consistently remained India’s leading state for both investments and startup creation for the past three years. “Every year, more founders, investors, and global companies are joining Maharashtra’s ecosystem,” he said.

Calling on global startups and companies to invest in the state, the Chief Minister said, “This is the best time for those working in technology and AI. Maharashtra is the best place to build. Work for Maharashtra, work for India, and innovate for the world.”

He added that the government is not only supporting incubation and acceleration but also investing through a “Fund of Funds” and acting as a direct partner in innovation.

Highlighting AI-driven governance initiatives, Fadnavis mentioned the “Maha-Vistar” farmer app, which has been recognised as one of India’s best digital agriculture solutions. The “India-Vistar” model is now being developed on similar lines.

He also pointed to AI-based systems improving building permission processes by enhancing transparency and efficiency. In law enforcement, the “Crime OS” platform is expected to significantly speed up investigations and court processes. “What earlier took three to four months for a 15,000-page chargesheet can now be done in 10–12 days using AI,” he said.

AI is also being used in health insurance fraud detection, human resource management in government, traffic control, disaster management, and surveillance systems. The state aims to develop 50 AI engines across various departments.

Addressing concerns about deepfakes, data security, and trust in AI systems, the Chief Minister stressed that “ethical AI” remains central to Maharashtra’s policy. He said AI must be accessible to MSMEs as well, not just large corporations, and must always remain human-centric, with human values and oversight at its core.