Patna: The state govt plans to set up a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence on the IIT-Patna campus in Bihta at an estimated cost of around Rs60 crore. The proposal was recommended at the second high-level meeting of the Bihar AI Mission chaired by chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Wednesday.Officials said around 11 acres have been earmarked on the IIT campus for the proposed centre. Of the total cost, the Centre and the state will contribute Rs24 crore each, while Rs12 crore is expected from industry partners. However, this is currently only a recommendation, they added.Pratyaya said Bihar will set up a pavilion at the AI Impact Summit to be held in New Delhi from Feb 16 to 20, signalling the state’s readiness to play a role in AI development at national and international levels.The meeting discussed that the allocated funds would primarily be used to develop high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, purchase advanced AI tools and platforms, cover operational expenses, and build skilled manpower.“Bihar is no longer limited to infrastructure development; we are rapidly moving towards a ‘knowledge economy’ and cutting-edge technology. The use of AI is not just a technological shift; it will become a powerful tool for good governance in Bihar,” Pratyaya said.He further said the state aims to use AI to enhance flood forecasting, improve agricultural yields through disease detection, and strengthen healthcare delivery in remote rural areas. In education, AI will help prepare students for future employment. It will also aid the government in data-driven decision-making, ensuring transparent delivery of welfare benefits, he added.The chief secretary directed all relevant departments to prepare a detailed strategy and roadmap before the next meeting so that on-ground work can begin quickly.Abhay Kumar, secretary of the information technology department, gave a detailed presentation on the progress and action plan of the Bihar AI Mission.Additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries of the education, agriculture, urban development and housing, health and industries departments, along with Dr Mahesh Kumar (CEO, Tiger Analytics), Harshvardhan Kumar (CEO, Avisys Technologies), Sopnendu Mohanty (CEO, GFTN) and Prof Pritam Kumar (IIT Patna), attended the meeting.
