The IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Information Technology & Communications Department, Government of Meghalaya and IIM Shillong, hosted the first Regional AI Impact Conference 2025 in Shillong on December 3, 2025. Based on the theme of ‘Artificial Intelligence for Citizen Empowerment: Smarter Governance, Better Lives’, the event witnessed participation from over 700 individuals from a diverse spectrum of the society, reaffirming Meghalaya’s emergence as a leading hub for digital innovation in the North East. 

The forum marks a precursor to the India - AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi, India from February 15 – 20, 2026 and is a part of the national series of 7 Regional Conferences being held across the country. 

Joining virtually for his keynote address, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, “Just as electricity transformed modern life, AI is set to become indispensable for India’s progress. Our mission is to democratize AI so that every citizen can access its benefits, enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, and solving real-world challenges. With over 38,000 GPUs in common compute facilities and plans to train one million people in AI skills, we are ensuring that technology reaches every corner of the country and empowers all citizens to shape a smarter, more inclusive future.”

The Chief Guest of the event, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, said “This conference will shape the future of technology, knowledge, data-driven governance, and the businesses we build in the days to come. We are investing in IT Parks and using AI to ensure Meghalaya stays ahead, from predicting weather patterns for farmers to tracking pregnant mothers and mapping springs. To take this forward, we need strong partners, and this conference should be a game-changer in creating opportunities and collaborations for our entrepreneurs and technology leaders.”

Shri Sangma further unveiled three initiatives: 

1.BHASHINI Hackathon for Khasi and Garo language model training; 

2.MeghDEE for co-creating digital innovation by engaging students, startups and Government Departments; 

3.DRISHTI-NE Hackathon for the youth who are interested in AI innovation.  

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Information Technology & Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya and IndiaAI Mission was also formalized for setting up of two Data & AI Labs in Meghalaya during the conference proceedings. 

Additionally, the Information Technology & Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya also signed an MoU with MATH T-Hub for setting up of a Satellite Incubation Centre in Shillong.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Sudeep Shrivastava, Joint Secretary, MeitY, said, “Meghalaya is hosting the first of these regional summits, a testament to the government of India's strong priority for the North East and its Act East Policy. This conference will give a major boost to the state’s IT initiatives and its efforts to use responsible AI for smarter governance and greater citizen benefit in the days ahead.”

The conference showcased Meghalaya’s adoption of AI for climate resilience, inclusive development, and improved governance, setting the stage for the India - AI Impact Summit 2026.

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