NE SCIENCE & TECH BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 24
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) organised a Curtain Raiser event on October 23, 2025, to build momentum for its participation in the Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.
The event was chaired by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, in the presence of Dr. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, Institute Chair Professor, IIT Bombay, and Ms. Kavita Bhatia, Scientist G and Group Coordinator, AI & ET Division, MeitY.
- MeitY leads the charge with ‘AI for Social Impact’ initiative, showcasing how technology can uplift lives and empower every citizen
- Curtain raiser sets the stage for ESTIC 2025, uniting government, academia, and industry to harness AI for Viksit Bharat 2047
- Experts stress that India’s multilingual, people-centric, and ethical AI ecosystem will bridge social divides and redefine progress
Curtain raised for AI for Social Impact under #ESTIC2025!
Hosted by @GoI_MeitY, the session marked the beginning of India’s journey to leverage AI for inclusive growth and social transformation.#AIforGood #DigitalIndia #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #Innovation #DeepTech pic.twitter.com/YZEFaUThuz— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) October 24, 2025
Speaking at the Curtain Raiser, Shri S. Krishnan said, “If India is to become a developed nation, we must ride the wave of technology, and AI is perhaps the most crucial technology driving that transformation. To achieve this, we need inclusive mechanisms that ensure people can access and benefit from AI in meaningful ways. In that context, this event is especially significant, and its theme, ‘Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact,’ is aptly chosen. It reflects our focus on how AI can make a real difference in society. India’s intent is clear — we must view AI as a force for good and approach it in a positive, transformative way.”
Ms. Kavita Bhatia said, “AI is a kinetic enabler, empowering us to leapfrog traditional development barriers and catalyse large-scale socio-economic transformation. Our approach has been guided by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s inclusive development philosophy — Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayaas — placing ‘AI for All’ at its very core.”
Dr. Ganesh Ramakrishnan noted, “India has a unique advantage because of its diversity and strong digital public infrastructure. Aadhaar, UPI, and other platforms have provided the backbone for scalable AI solutions. Initiatives like Bhashini and the National Sovereign AI Ecosystem, BharatGen, demonstrate our commitment to building context-aware, multilingual, and multimodal AI rooted in India.”
ESTIC 2025
The Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave 2025 (ESTIC 2025) will be held from November 3 – 5, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, organised by the Department of Science and Technology under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. It will showcase cutting-edge developments shaping India’s innovation-led growth and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Website: https://estic.dst.gov.in/index.html
‘Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact’ Session at ESTIC 2025
As part of the conclave, MeitY will host a dedicated session on November 4, 2025, highlighting India’s commitment to a responsible, inclusive, and transformative AI ecosystem. The session will focus on developing India-centric, resource-efficient AI solutions that address real-world challenges and deliver measurable social impact.
Key stakeholders from government, academia, research, and industry will participate, underscoring the importance of synergy in advancing India’s AI and emerging technology ecosystem.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho. Other prominent speakers include:
Shri Abhishek Singh (Additional Secretary, MeitY); Dr. Sriram Raghavan (Vice President, IBM Research for AI); Dr. Geetha Manjunath (Founder & CEO, Niramai); Shri Amit Sheth (Founding Director, AI Institute, University of South Carolina); Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati (Co-founder, DeepTech for Bharat Foundation & former CEO, Prasar Bharati); Dr. Harrick Mayank Vin (CTO, Tata Consultancy Services); Prof. Balaraman Ravindran (Head, DSAI Dept., IIT Madras); Ms. Debjani Ghosh (Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog); Dr. Rimjhim Agrawal (Co-founder & CTO, BrainSightAI); Dr. P. Venkat Rangan (Vice Chancellor, Amrita University); and Mr. Alpan Raval (Chief Scientist, AI/ML, Wadhwani AI).
Building on this vision, MeitY will host the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19–20, 2026, in New Delhi, spotlighting AI’s transformative potential in driving inclusive development, sustainability, and equitable growth, anchored around three core sutras — People, Planet, and Progress.
As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape the world, India’s proactive, responsible, and inclusive approach offers a model for others to follow. AI is not merely a technological pursuit but a tool for social justice, better governance, and equitable opportunity. The real challenge lies in ensuring that technology remains humane, transparent, and accessible to every citizen.
By aligning AI with the principles of trust, fairness, and sustainability, India is poised to transform it into a force for collective progress — a digital revolution with a human heart.
