Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh on Tuesday emphasised on the need for the optimal use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government working to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Speaking at a special session on AI organised for the staff of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block here, he highlighted the critical role AI can play in revolutionising governance, streamlining operations and improving decision-making processes across various government departments.
The session, which saw participation from officers across all levels — from Section Officers to the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Union Minister — was a unique demonstration of breaking hierarchical barriers within the PMO, with officials learning the same advanced concepts alongside each other, according to an official statement.
Addressing the session, which included senior officials like Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra and Advisors to the PM, Amit Khare and Tarun Kapoor besides other senior officers, Singh underscored that AI has the power to automate routine tasks, freeing up government officials to focus on more strategic areas of governance.
He highlighted how AI could transform key sectors like healthcare, agriculture and public service delivery, ensuring that government departments become more efficient and public services more responsive to citizen needs.
The session was part of the ongoing "National Learning Week" under Mission Karmayogi, an ambitious capacity-building initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi, aimed at empowering government employees with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the complexities of modern governance.
The initiative focuses on creating a more agile, transparent and effective bureaucracy, and Tuesday's session on AI was a step in that direction, said the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry.
Singh praised the prime minister's vision for Mission Karmayogi, stating it not only enhances the skills of individual officers but also promotes a collaborative and inclusive learning environment, where traditional hierarchies are dissolved in favour of collective learning and growth.
He also emphasised the importance of deploying AI responsibly, stressing the need to safeguard data privacy, particularly in sensitive areas of government functioning. “While AI holds immense potential for enhancing productivity, it must be implemented with caution to ensure confidentiality and data security,” the minister said, adding strong security measures are necessary to protect AI systems from cyber threats and unauthorised access.
