Govt committed to developing TG into global innovation hub: Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad: The Telangana Government is committed to developing the State into a global “Innovation Capital,” with Artificial Intelligence (AI), research-driven innovation, and the ethical use of technology at its core, said Minister for IT and Industries Duddilla Sridhar Babu on Saturday. Speaking at the BITS Alumni Association Global Meet 2026, held at the BITS Pilani–Hyderabad campus, the Minister said technology should not be confined to academic degrees alone, but must be meaningfully applied for national service and the larger goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Drawing a comparison with global digital models, Mr. Sridhar Babu said that while several countries have promoted private digital monopolies, India has emerged as a global model through Digital Public Infrastructure such as Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). He noted that Telangana has taken this philosophy forward with the launch of the AI-enabled Telangana Data Exchange (TGDeX)—the first initiative of its kind in the country—which is providing a significant impetus to research and innovation. The proposed Telangana AI Innovation Hub and AI University, he said, are expected to set new benchmarks and serve as reference models for other States. Observing that the present era of Artificial Intelligence places a premium on coordination rather than intelligence alone, the Minister underlined the need to accord the highest priority to data privacy, ethics, and responsible AI. He also called upon technology companies to strengthen their focus on research and development. Referring to the changing parameters of business success, Mr. Sridhar Babu said that while companies were once assessed primarily on scale, speed, and valuation, long-term sustainability today depends on robust system architecture, data ownership, faster decision-making, and public trust. He added that the job market of the future would increasingly value creative thinkers capable of identifying root problems and offering solutions, rather than professionals limited to coding skills alone. He emphasised that the benefits of AI should not remain confined to urban centres, and called for research that addresses rural challenges in agriculture, education, and healthcare, ensuring that the advantages of technology reach the grassroots. Inviting the BITS Pilani alumni and leadership to partner in the State’s “Telangana Rising” vision, Mr. Sridhar Babu said the government was fully prepared to work closely with the institution in advancing artificial intelligence, innovation, and cutting-edge academic research. BITS Alumni Association Chairperson Prem Jain, MapmyIndia Founder and Chairman Rakesh Verma, BGM 2026 Chairperson Anita, and other alumni and dignitaries were present at the event.