Shillong, December 3 : The Regional AI Impact Conference 2025 concluded today in Shillong with an impressive turnout of over 700 participants and several milestone announcements, reinforcing Meghalaya’s position as a rising center for digital transformation in the North East. The event was jointly organized by the Information Technology & Communications Department, Government of Meghalaya; IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); and IIM Shillong as the Knowledge Partner. It forms part of a national series of five regional conferences leading up to the India-AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, attended the conference as the Chief Guest. Participants ranged from students and entrepreneurs to government officials, academicians, AI practitioners, and community leaders, reflecting the state’s diverse and growing interest in emerging technologies.
The conference opened with a welcome address by Pravin Bakshi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of the Information Technology & Communications Department, who set the tone for the day’s discussions and activities.
In a special message, Ashwani Vaishnaw, Union Minister, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, congratulated Meghalaya for hosting the regional event and highlighted key initiatives under India’s AI Mission.
The inaugural session marked the launch of three significant initiatives aimed at boosting AI capabilities and participation across the region:
i. BHASINI hackathon for Khasi & Garo model training and language whoever interested are to participate visit may
the website https://bhashini.gov.in/hackathon for more details;
ii. MeghDEE for co-creating digital innovation by engaging student, startups and Government Departments;
iii. DRISHTI-NE hackathon for the youth who are interested to take a challenge in coming up with their innovation in the field of AI and win a prize worth Rs.2.5 Lakhs.
The Conference also witnessed the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Information Technology & Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya and IndiaAI Mission for setting up 2(two) Data & AI Lab in Meghalaya and the other MoU between Information Technology & Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya and MATH T-Hub for setting up of Satellite Incubation Centre in Shillong.
The Chief Minister expressed deep appreciation to the IndiaAl Mission and MeitY for choosing Shillong as the Regional host. He emphasized that the Conference marks a major step forward for Meghalaya under the theme “AI for CE- Artificial Intelligence for Citizen Empowerment: Smarter Governance, Better Lives.” reaffirming the state’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies for inclusive and sustainable development. The Chief Minister highlighted that for the state to thrive in this digital era the digital ecosystem plays an integral part to realize this transition. He also emphasizes that data plays an equally important factor for a data driven governance.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by the Chief Minister inauguration of the exhibition stalls as part of this conference programme where startups, academic institutions showcase their innovation in the field of AI. Thereafter the programme is followed by the IndiaAI Mission and the panel discussions on two theme i.e. AI for Climate Resilience which is chaired by Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya and AI for Good Governance for a Safer and Equitable Societies which is chaired by K. S. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department, Government of Assam and co-chaired by Agatha K Sangma, Chairperson of the MSCPCR.
