Latest news with #BhaskarKatamaneni
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Govt to identify AI champions to spearhead digital transformation initiatives
Vijayawada: On the second day of the high-level workshop on 'AI and Emerging Technologies for Government Digital Transformation', RTGS Secretary Bhaskar Katamaneni on Friday announced that 20 departments will be shortlisted to identify AI Champions, who will undergo a four-day intensive training programme. These departments, selected strategically to cover approximately 80 per cent of government operations, will work in close coordination with the IT Department and WGDT to identify department-specific problems that can be converted into Proof of Concept (PoC) solutions and later scaled into full-fledged implementations. The workshop is being held in collaboration with Wadhwani Centre for Government Digital Transformation (WGDT) at Secretariat. He said that the government envisions that 100 to 150 projects will emerge from this initiative, aimed at improving governance, service delivery, and impact measurement. The process will culminate with these departments submitting their AI-enabled PoCs to a jury comprising senior government officials and industry experts. Digital transformation, driven by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), is vital for achieving the Government's vision of 'Minimum Government – Maximum Governance'. The state government recognises the growing need to accelerate AI adoption in internal workflows for efficient service delivery, economic development, and real-time impact analysis. This initiative is inspired by the success of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), which two decades ago created a cadre of eGov Champions to drive digital projects. The current programme, drawing on that legacy, aims to empower a new generation of AI leaders capable of integrating advanced technologies ethically and efficiently into public governance. The training includes in-person workshops, mentorship from subject matter experts, and structured project development. Each department will form a team of 3–4 members, including at least one officer at the rank of Director or above who will serve as the AI Champion, and other enthusiastic officers who will be trained as AI Catalysts. With this forward-looking initiative, the Government of Andhra Pradesh reinforces its commitment to place innovation at the heart of governance and service delivery.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘AI Champions' will undergo four-day intensive training programme, says RTGS official
Top officials from various departments took part in the high-level workshop on 'AI and Emerging Technologies for Government Digital Transformation', on the second day on Friday. The workshop was designed to enhance awareness and capacity among senior and mid-level officers to implement AI-driven innovations across government functions. During the session, RTGS Secretary Bhaskar Katamaneni said 20 departments would be shortlisted to identify AI Champions (Change Agents), who would undergo a four-day intensive training programme. These departments, selected strategically to cover approximately 80% of government operations, would work in close coordination with the IT Department and WGDT to identify department-specific problems that could be converted into Proof of Concept (PoC) solutions, and later scaled to full-fledged implementation, he said. 'The government envisions that 100 to 150 projects will emerge from this initiative, aimed at improving governance, service delivery, and impact measurement. The process will culminate with these departments submitting their AI-enabled PoCs to a jury comprising senior government officials and industry experts,' he said. On the second day, 100 AI Champions and 200 AI Catalysts from various departments continued their hands-on training. These officials were being specially groomed to drive digital transformation across government sectors using cutting-edge technology. AI Champions would serve as key agents of digital change within their respective departments. Their responsibilities include formulating a clear AI strategy, identifying AI projects in collaboration with experts, leading their implementation, assessing relevant technologies, and facilitating upskilling within departments. AI Catalysts would support the digital transformation journey within their departments. Their roles cover project management, knowledge-sharing as subject matter experts, facilitating effective communication and collaboration, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and monitoring and evaluating AI projects.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Meet on India's First Quantum Computing Village in Amaravati held
Taking a significant step forward in realising its vision of building India's first Quantum Computing Village, the State government held a high-level meeting on Tuesday at the Secretariat under the aegis of the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS). Representatives from IBM, TCS, and L&T participated in detailed deliberations. Key highlights of the discussion included the design of an Iconic Building to be constructed by L&T, housing advanced quantum systems provided by IBM, with a possibility of expanding the facility for decades to come. Bhaskar Katamaneni, Secretary of RTGS, shared key details of the planned ecosystem, highlighting that the Quantum Computing Village will feature a landmark Iconic Building, conceptualised by IBM The facility is envisioned as a collaborative ecosystem where institutions and companies can access and share advanced quantum computing resources. It will also include a dedicated on-site data centre to support high-performance computing needs. IBM and TCS will jointly finalise the infrastructure specifications, with the initial setup set to host the IBM Quantum System Two. Emphasising the project's global ambition, Mr. Bhaskar said: 'This Quantum Village will be a world-class facility — India's window to the future of computing.' Pradyumna P.S., Special Secretary, added that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had directed officials to accelerate progress and ensure swift execution of the project. Patryk Gumann from IBM Quantum, U.S., gave a comprehensive presentation on IBM Quantum System Two. He also discussed technical and infrastructure requirements with L&T and state representatives to facilitate its early deployment. Notable attendees included Indrajit Mitra, vice president & head of research, L&T Mindtree; Vijayan, chief architect, L&T G. Ramakrishna, CFO, AP Cluster, L&T C.V. Sridhar, head – academics, COIN & India Strategic Initiative; and L. Venkata Subramaniam, head, IBM Quantum, India. With this momentum, Andhra Pradesh is steadily transforming Amaravati into a global hub for quantum innovation, setting the stage for India's leadership in next-generation computing. The 50-acre facility in Amaravati, already announced by the State government, is envisioned as a pioneering ecosystem for quantum computing research and collaboration. The latest meeting focused on infrastructure planning, ecosystem development, and technical alignment for the prestigious project.
