29th National e-Governance Conference Concludes with Jaipur Declaration
The 29th National Conference on e-Governance concluded in Jaipur with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026, outlining a strategic roadmap for advancing AI-enabled, data-driven, and secure digital governance aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that human intelligence must lead artificial intelligence in governance, stating that AI has become an essential component of governance but must be deployed responsibly with citizens remaining at the center of every technological intervention.
National e-Governance Awards Distribution
Dr. Jitendra Singh presented the National e-Governance Awards 2026 to 17 outstanding digital governance initiatives from Central Ministries and Departments, State and Union Territory Governments, District Administrations, Gram Panchayats, and Academic & Research Institutions. The awards comprised 10 Gold Awards, 6 Silver Awards, and one Jury Award across seven categories, recognizing exemplary initiatives that demonstrate how innovation, technology, and public service can create measurable improvements in citizens' lives.
Key Governance Initiatives Highlighted
The conference showcased several significant digital governance initiatives, including the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), which has evolved into one of the world's largest technology-enabled grievance redress mechanisms with significantly reduced disposal time. SAMADHAN DIDI, an AI-powered multilingual voice chatbot developed in collaboration with BHASHINI, was highlighted as a powerful example of how AI can make governance more responsive and inclusive by enabling citizens to interact with government in their own languages. The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) was recognized as an important benchmark for evaluating digital public services across States, Union Territories, and Central Ministries.
Governance Philosophy and Approach
Dr. Jitendra Singh articulated India's governance philosophy as combining the speed and analytical capabilities of Artificial Intelligence with human judgement, constitutional values, and democratic accountability. He emphasized that technology should amplify human capability, strengthen institutional credibility, and improve citizens' experience while remaining anchored in ethics, transparency, and public trust. The government's approach follows the principle of "Maximum Governance, Minimum Government," with digital technologies enabling greater transparency, faster service delivery, and enhanced public accountability.
Conference Participation and Organization
The conference was jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the Government of Rajasthan. It brought together policymakers, senior administrators, technology experts, innovators, industry leaders, researchers, and representatives of local governments from across the country. Participants included Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, DARPG Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Member of Parliament Manju Sharma, and senior officers of Central and State Governments.