Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurates the state's first Digital Governance, AI, Cyber Security and Skilling Workshop in collaboration with Microsoft India.
Imphal, August 5: The Government of Manipur on Wednesday took a significant step towards strengthening digital governance by inaugurating the first State-Level Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security and Skilling Workshop at the Civil Secretariat in Mantripukhri. The event, organised by the Department of Information Technology in collaboration with Microsoft India, also laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership aimed at accelerating the state's digital transformation.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who inaugurated the workshop, said the initiative reflects the government's commitment to building a digitally empowered, inclusive and future-ready Manipur. He noted that the collaboration with Microsoft aligns with the state's vision of using technology to improve governance, expand opportunities for young people and enhance the delivery of public services.
The Chief Minister said the government intends to create a secure, citizen-centric digital ecosystem where people across the state, regardless of their location, can access transparent, efficient and reliable government services.
Glimpses from the 1st State-Level Digital Governance, AI, Cybersecurity & Skilling Workshop, organised in collaboration with Microsoft at the Civil Secretariat, Mantripukhri.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) August 5, 2026
Training senior State officials in the safe and trusted use of AI is a significant step towards… pic.twitter.com/cfOzyxnsld
Emphasising the importance of digital skills in the emerging economy, he said the partnership would help equip youth, government employees and entrepreneurs with expertise in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and other advanced technologies. According to him, these initiatives are expected to boost employment, promote innovation and encourage entrepreneurship in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and digital services.
The Chief Minister also stressed that digital transformation must be accompanied by strong safeguards for privacy and cybersecurity. He reiterated the government's commitment to protecting citizens' data while implementing technology-driven governance initiatives and called upon all stakeholders to work together towards building an innovative, resilient and inclusive Digital Manipur.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Secretary (Information Technology) Somorjit Salam said the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Manipur and Microsoft would establish a collaborative framework for innovation in digital governance, capacity building, cybersecurity, responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence and digital skills development.
He said one of the notable aspects of the proposed collaboration is the effort to strengthen digital support for the Manipuri language, making technology more accessible and inclusive for people across the state.
Microsoft India Chief Technology Officer Keshri Asthana reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting Manipur's digital journey through secure cloud infrastructure, enhanced cybersecurity solutions and frameworks that allow the government to retain full control over its digital data.
He said the proposed MoU envisions a long-term partnership focusing on cloud adoption, AI-driven innovation, cybersecurity, capacity building and the delivery of citizen-centric digital services.
The workshop was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Vivek Kumar Dewangan, administrative secretaries of various departments, senior government officials, representatives from Microsoft India and other stakeholders.
The event marks the state's first dedicated platform bringing together policymakers, technology experts and administrators to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and digital governance in modernising public administration while expanding digital opportunities for citizens.
Reviewed the functioning of the Information Technology Department today at the Civil Secretariat, Mantripukhri.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) August 6, 2026
Assessed the progress of IT projects, e-governance initiatives and digital infrastructure, while discussing measures to overcome implementation challenges. Reaffirmed… pic.twitter.com/QMRE9Foa4q
On Thursday, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also reviewed the functioning of the Information Technology Department at the Civil Secretariat, Mantripukhri. During the review, he assessed the progress of ongoing IT projects, e-governance initiatives and digital infrastructure, while discussing measures to address implementation challenges across the sector.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government's commitment to building a future-ready workforce by promoting innovation, supporting startups and strengthening citizen-centric digital services. He said these efforts are aimed at creating a technologically empowered Manipur with improved governance and greater access to digital opportunities for its citizens.
