Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 CITY VIEWS March 13, 2026 T he government of Bihar has estab- lished an Artificial Intelligence Cen- ter of Excellence, positioning the state as an emerging hub for data, AI and digital innovation, officials said. The initiative aligns with India’s broader push to expand artificial intel- ligence capabilities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bihar Chief Minister Nit- ish Kumar has overseen the state’s efforts to translate the national vision into state- level implementation. The AI Center of Excellence was de- veloped through a partnership with IIT Patna and IIM Gaya, providing academic and research support. The state also partnered with Tiger Analytics, a global AI and analytics firm with more than 8,000 employees. Mahesh Kumar, founder of Tiger Analytics and a native of Naugachia in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, is supporting the initiative. Company officials said the partnership reflects collaboration be- tween global technology leaders and local institutions. Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit super- vised the project and coordinated efforts among government agencies, academic institutions and industry partners. Officials said the AI center is expected to generate employment opportunities, promote AI education across academic and administrative systems, and help gov- ernment departments integrate AI-driven tools into governance. The center also aims to prepare a technology workforce aligned with global standards. During a recent AI summit in Bihar, senior state officials and administrators discussed adoption of emerging technolo- gies. Attendees included Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Industry Minister Sanjay Jaiswal, Member of Parlia- ment Sanjay Jha, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Minister of State for Information Technology Shreyasi Singh. Initial discussions for the project were supported by the Bihar Foundation, whose CEO Kundan Kumar encouraged partnerships aligned with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technol- ogy. Representatives from the Bihar dias- pora in the United States also participated in early-stage engagement. Administrative support was provided by Bihar’s Information Technology De- partment, including IT Secretary Abhay Singh and other officials involved in coordinating the center’s establishment in Bihta. Officials said Bihar is the first state to consolidate three AI-focused initiatives into a single Center of Excellence model, aimed at improving coordination and impact. The project represents a collabora- tion among state government, academia, industry and members of the global dias- pora as Bihar seeks to expand its presence in the artificial intelligence sector. Bihar Establishes Artificial Intelligence Center Of Excellence With Academic, Industry Partners By a StaffWriter PHOTO: ALOK KUMAR Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit meets with Bihar Foundation East Coast representative Alok Kumar during discussions on the state’s Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence initiative. Pratyaya Amrit, Chief Secretary of Bihar, with Tiger Analytics Inc. Founder Dr. Mahesh Kumar, Global Head Badrish Kumar, Bihar Foundation Chairman (USA ETX) Alok Kumar, and Bihar IT Secretary Mr. Abhay K. Delegation From The NJ Chapter Of Indian Overseas Congress-USA Visits New Delhi A delegation from the In- dian Overseas Congress- USA’s New Jersey chap- ter recently concluded a three-day visit to New Delhi, meeting top leaders of the Indian National Congress. The delegation was led by Pradip (Peter) Kothari, president, New Jersey Chapter, and Harkesh Thakur, chairman, New Jersey Chapter. The delegation was in New Delhi fromMarch 1-4, 2026. Calling it a distinct honor for the team to meet with senior na- tional leadership, the press release said the primary ob- jective of the visit was to engage with the Indian National Congress (INC) leadership to strengthen collaboration, foster cooperation, and plan joint events in the coming year. A key focus was securing participation and support from INC leaders for a major IOC event expected to draw over 10,000 attendees in 2027. (The IOC is currently under the leadership of Chicago businessman Sam Pitroda, chairman of Global Indian Overseas Congress, Arathi Krishna, All India Congress Committee Secretary, and Mohinder Singh Gilzian, presi- dent of Indian Overseas Congress-USA.) Highlights of the Visit: • On March 3, the delegation met Rahul Gandhi at his residence at 10 Janpath, New Delhi. Kothari extended an invitation to Gandhi to visit New Jersey/NewYork for the upcoming large-scale event. Gandhi accepted the invitation. • The delegation held productive discussions with Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. They also met Anil Shastri, former MP and son of Late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. • K.C. Venugopal, member of the Lok Sabha, hosted the delegation at his Lodhi Estate residence for in- depth discussions on various issues. • Vivek Tankha, member of the Rajya Sabha, hosted a dinner for the delegation, attended by Dr. Aarti Krishna, AICC Secretary in charge of the Indian Overseas Congress. The evening in- cluded engaging interactions and light moments, including musical contributions from Dr. Krishna. On March 2, the delegation conducted a well-attended press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi with approximately 25 prominent journalists. The session highlighted IOC’s re- cent achievements, outlined future plans, and included a productive Q&A. Permanent Member of the CongressWorking Committee Gurdeep Singh Sappal, also welcomed the delegation members and exchanged views. The delegation also visited Rajghat to pay homage to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi. “The visit reinforced the strong bond between the In- dian National Congress and the Indian diaspora through the IOC, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and impactful initiatives ahead,” the press release said. “The Indian Overseas Congress is the international wing supporting the ideology and objectives of the Indian National Congress, dedicated to promoting democratic values, secularism, and the welfare of the Indian diaspora worldwide,” the press release noted. By a StaffWriter Peter Kothari IOC Delegation leader presenting a bouquet to Rahul Gandhi along with other members of the delegation. Mallikarjun Kharge, President, Indian National Congresswith NJ delegation. PHOTOS: IOC-USA