Manipur Signs MoU with BHASHINI to Boost Multilingual AI and Digital Services

The Government of Manipur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) to strengthen multilingual artificial intelligence (AI), develop regional language resources and expand access to citizen-centric digital services. The agreement aims to integrate Indian language technologies into government platforms and make digital services more accessible to people across the state.

The MoU was signed during the BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop – Manipur Chapter, held in Imphal on October 14, 2026. The workshop was organised by DIBD, under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Government of Manipur.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh attended the programme, which brought together government officials and other stakeholders to explore how multilingual AI could help bridge language barriers and promote inclusive digital governance.

MoU to Strengthen Language Technology in Manipur

The agreement was signed by Amitabh Nag, CEO of DIBD, and Somorjit Salam, IAS, Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Manipur.

Under the collaboration, both sides will work to improve language resources, identify priority applications and explore the deployment of multilingual digital solutions across government services. The initiative will also focus on developing and validating language technologies in consultation with language experts and local communities.

Addressing the workshop, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in promoting India’s linguistic diversity and creating opportunities for communities in Manipur.

He said AI and language technology could help bring more of Manipur’s languages into the digital ecosystem, adding that India’s linguistic diversity was a valuable strength as the country advanced its digital transformation.

Somorjit Salam emphasised that digital services must be understandable and accessible to the people they are designed to serve. He said BHASHINI could help address language barriers through carefully tested solutions tailored to the state’s requirements, ensuring meaningful public benefits.

Real-Time English-to-Manipuri Translation Demonstrated

The workshop provided an overview of BHASHINI’s Language-First Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which brings together language datasets, AI models, application programming interfaces (APIs) and applications to support multilingual digital services.

A live demonstration of real-time English-to-Manipuri translation showcased how language technology could facilitate communication and improve access to digital information.

Participants also discussed the importance of building high-quality language datasets and validating AI models using relevant local data. Engagement with language experts and communities was highlighted as essential to ensuring that the technologies accurately reflect regional languages, communication practices and real-world requirements.

Amitabh Nag said AI systems must understand India’s linguistic diversity and that the partnership with Manipur would focus on strengthening language technologies, expanding practical applications and ensuring that language does not become an obstacle to accessing digital services or pursuing opportunities.

Focus on Manipur’s Linguistic Diversity

The initiative recognises the linguistic diversity of Manipur, where languages include Manipuri, Tangkhul, Thadou, Paite, Hmar and Liangmai, among others.

The collaboration aims to draw on local linguistic knowledge, community participation and regional expertise to develop digital resources that better represent the state’s languages.

The workshop explored potential applications of multilingual AI in several public service sectors, including education, healthcare, legal services and grievance redressal. Integrating language technologies into these areas could help citizens interact more effectively with government platforms and access information in languages they understand.

The event also featured BHASHINI Shilpi, an interactive platform designed for developers, students and innovators. It encouraged participants to experiment with language AI, explore APIs, exchange ideas and develop solutions to real-world challenges.

An interactive question-and-answer session allowed participants to discuss potential applications and seek clarification on implementation. The BHASHINI Mitra initiative was also highlighted as a way for state institutions and language communities to contribute language data and strengthen multilingual AI resources.

Next Steps: Identifying Priority Applications

Following the workshop, DIBD and the Government of Manipur will identify priority use cases, assess language-data requirements and explore integrating BHASHINI technologies into relevant government platforms.

The partnership will also focus on strengthening language resources and working with local experts and communities to develop and validate solutions suited to the state’s linguistic diversity and public service needs.

The BHASHINI Rajyam initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation between the national language technology platform and state governments, translating AI capabilities into practical applications that improve access to digital services and encourage wider participation in India’s digital ecosystem.

BHASHINI’s Expanding Digital Infrastructure

The Digital India BHASHINI Division operates under Digital India Corporation within MeitY and is advancing India’s Language-First Digital Public Infrastructure to enable multilingual access to digital services.

According to the information shared by the division, BHASHINI powers more than 800 government websites, has enabled over nine billion cumulative AI inferences and processes more than 24 million AI inferences daily.

Its language technology ecosystem supports 36 Indian languages for text, 23 Indian languages for voice and 35 international languages.

The partnership with Manipur is expected to contribute to these efforts by strengthening regional language resources and exploring practical applications of multilingual AI in governance. The initiative seeks to ensure that language diversity becomes an enabler of digital inclusion rather than a barrier to accessing public services.