The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is preparing to modernise India’s government digital infrastructure by creating a panel of technology companies that can help ministries upgrade aging IT systems using artificial intelligence technologies, according to a report by Moneycontrol.
The initiative is being introduced through a Request for Empanelment (RFE) issued by the National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) on June 25. Under the proposal, government departments will be able to select pre-approved technology partners for digital transformation projects without conducting separate procurement processes each time, helping speed up implementation.
NICSI intends to empanel up to 20 companies for the programme. Of these, 10 positions will be open under the general category, while the remaining 10 will be reserved for startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), giving emerging Indian technology firms an opportunity to participate in government AI projects.
The empanelment will initially remain valid for three years and may be extended for another two years depending on the performance of the selected companies.
Technology partners chosen under the programme will assess existing government software and digital platforms, identify outdated technology stacks, and recommend strategies to modernise them. The objective is to improve the efficiency, scalability, reliability, and long-term sustainability of government IT infrastructure.
A major focus of the initiative is to integrate AI directly into core government digital systems instead of deploying it as a separate capability. The selected firms will work on incorporating machine learning, generative AI, agentic AI, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics into government applications. They will also be responsible for establishing AI governance frameworks to support responsible deployment, oversight, and compliance.
In addition to application upgrades, the empanelled companies will help strengthen government data infrastructure by building modern data management systems, including data lakes and data warehouses. These systems are expected to improve data accessibility and support AI-powered insights and decision-making across departments.
The selection process will include several evaluation stages, such as eligibility verification, technical assessments, presentations, and financial reviews. Technical expertise will play a significant role in determining the final list of empanelled firms.
By establishing a common pool of AI-focused technology partners, NICSI aims to simplify technology procurement and enable government ministries and departments to roll out AI-led digital transformation projects more quickly and efficiently.
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