Digital India BHASHINI and Manipur Government Join Hands to Advance Multilingual AI

Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Manipur government have signed an MoU to advance multilingual AI, strengthen regional language technology and improve access to digital public services.

BHASHINI and Manipur Government Sign MoU for Language Technology

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), operating under Digital India Corporation and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Manipur to expand multilingual artificial intelligence and improve access to digital services.

The agreement was signed during the BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop, Manipur Chapter, held in Imphal on October 14, 2026. Organised in collaboration with the state’s Department of Information Technology, the workshop brought together government representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the integration of Indian language technologies into public services.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh attended the event and highlighted the potential of AI to connect the state’s diverse linguistic communities with digital platforms.

Partnership Aims to Improve Multilingual Digital Services

The collaboration aims to strengthen language resources, develop practical AI-based solutions and make government services more accessible to people who communicate in different languages.

A key highlight of the workshop was a live demonstration of real-time English-to-Manipuri translation. The demonstration showed how language technology could help overcome communication barriers and enable more people to participate in digital services.

The partnership will explore opportunities to integrate multilingual tools into public-facing government platforms, helping citizens access information and services in languages they understand.

BHASHINI’s Language-First Digital Public Infrastructure

The workshop showcased BHASHINI’s Language-First Digital Public Infrastructure, an ecosystem that combines language datasets, AI models, application programming interfaces (APIs) and digital applications.

This infrastructure is designed to support multilingual services across platforms and enable developers and public institutions to incorporate language technology into their systems.

Discussions also focused on validating AI language models with relevant data and inputs from local communities. Such validation is important for developing tools that reflect regional language usage and respond to the needs of the people who use them.

Focus on Manipuri and Other Regional Languages

Under the agreement, the BHASHINI Division and the Manipur government will explore opportunities to develop and strengthen language resources for several languages spoken in the state.

These include:

• Manipuri

• Tangkhul

• Thadou

• Paite

• Hmar

• Liangmai

• Other regional languages spoken across Manipur

Expanding language datasets and developing suitable AI models could help improve translation, voice-based services and access to digital information for communities that are often underserved by mainstream digital platforms.

The initiative also recognises the importance of working with local language communities to improve the relevance and reliability of multilingual tools.

AI Applications in Education, Healthcare and Public Services

Participants discussed how multilingual AI could support a range of essential services, including education, healthcare, legal assistance and grievance redressal.

In education, language technology could help make learning materials more accessible to students who prefer regional languages. In healthcare, multilingual tools could assist people in understanding information and navigating services.

Government departments could also explore language-based interfaces to help citizens submit complaints, seek information and access public services more conveniently.

The potential applications will depend on identifying priority use cases, developing suitable language resources and integrating validated tools into relevant platforms.

BHASHINI Shilpi and Mitra Encourage Wider Participation

The workshop highlighted initiatives designed to encourage innovation and community involvement in language technology.

BHASHINI Shilpi

The BHASHINI Shilpi platform offers developers, students and innovators opportunities to experiment with language AI and explore applications using multilingual technologies.

Such participation can help generate practical solutions and encourage the development of tools suited to regional requirements.

BHASHINI Mitra

The BHASHINI Mitra initiative encourages contributions from state institutions and language communities. Their involvement can support the development of language resources and improve the usefulness of AI systems for local populations.

Community participation is particularly important for languages that require additional digital datasets and specialised language technology support.

Next Steps for Implementing the MoU

Following the workshop, the Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Government of Manipur will work towards identifying priority applications, assessing language-data requirements and exploring integration with existing government platforms.

These steps are expected to help determine how multilingual AI can be applied to practical administrative and citizen-service needs across the state.

Coordination between government departments, technology developers and local language communities will be important for translating the agreement into accessible digital solutions.

BHASHINI’s Expanding Multilingual Technology Network

According to the information provided, BHASHINI supports text services in 36 Indian languages, voice services in 23 Indian languages and 35 international languages. Its technology also powers more than 800 government websites.

The collaboration with Manipur adds to efforts to expand multilingual digital infrastructure and improve access to technology for people who use different languages.

Conclusion

The MoU between Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Government of Manipur marks a step towards making digital public services more inclusive through multilingual AI. By strengthening regional language resources and exploring applications across education, healthcare and governance, the partnership aims to reduce language barriers and widen digital access. Its success will depend on effective implementation, reliable language data and continued collaboration with local communities.