Ranchi: Positioning itself as a future-ready digital economy and a preferred investment destination, Jharkhand announced investment MoUs worth nearly Rs 87,000 crore, while unveiled an ambitious roadmap to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and create more than one lakh AI-enabled jobs in 1,000 AI startups.At the two-day national stakeholders’ consultation meet in New Delhi, authorities said eight MoUs related to the industries department, two each for tourism, art, culture & youth affairs and IT & e-governance department, were signed.During the meet, CM Hemant Soren underlined Jharkhand’s plan to emerge as India’s leading public governance-led AI state by integrating advanced technologies across governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, mining, environmental management and disaster response.The govt also proposed Jharkhand Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026-2031, which seeks to create an enabling ecosystem for responsible AI adoption while ensuring transparency, cybersecurity and data privacy. “The state plans to use AI-powered tools to improve decision-making, service delivery and public administration,” chief minister Hemant Soren said on Wednesday. “The state’s identity must extend beyond resources to research, beyond extraction to innovation, and beyond growth to broad-based, inclusive and sustainable development,” he added.The roadmap further proposes three major AI-led governance platforms — Chief Minister Data Intelligence Platform (CM-DIP), an AI-enabled decision-support system designed for real-time monitoring of govt schemes, infrastructure projects and departmental performance. Other two include Health & Nutrition Vigilance System (HNVS) and Critical Minerals Administration System (CMAS).For the necessary ecosystem, Jharkhand also plans to establish a State AI Mission, Jharkhand AI Cloud, AI Innovation Hub, AI Park, AI Innovation Zones and Centres of Excellence, while fostering collaboration between industry, academia and startups. “The govt has earmarked Rs 1,150 crore over the next five years for AI infrastructure, digital capacity-building and innovation initiatives,” state said in a statement, adding that plans are afoot for 100.97-acre IT Park in Ranchi is expected to attract Global Capability Centres (GCCs), IT firms, startups and technology-driven enterprises.During the two-day meet, the govt also presented five other proposed drafts on Investment Promotion Policy, Tourism Policy, Textile Policy, JIADA regulations and PPP (public-private partnership) Policy seeking feedback from stakeholders to make them industry-friendly and future-ready.Soren led delegation also held a series of business to govt (B2G) meetings with representatives from across diverse sectors. During a meeting with H.E. Simon Wong Wie Kuen, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Soren said that both have agreed to facilitate a visit by Singaporean companies to Jharkhand to jointly map opportunities for long-term collaboration across priority sectors.On X, he wrote, “Our discussions focused on logistics, supply chain resilience, transport, resource-based value addition, healthcare, education and skilling. Jharkhand looks forward to working closely with Singapore to identify areas of mutual interest, foster innovation, and build partnerships for investment, jobs, and sustainable growth for both sides.”
