AI for Linguistic Empowerment: Kerala, MeitY Launch New Initiative for Malayalam Language Technologies

byPaytm Editorial TeamOctober 8, 2025

Source: PIB

In a major push for digital accessibility, the central government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of Kerala are hosting a workshop to integrate the Malayalam language into the digital world. The “BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop,” held today, October 8, 2025, in Thiruvananthapuram, aims to empower Malayalam speakers through “voice-first” technology.

The workshop’s central theme, “Voice-First Digital Governance and the Linguistic Empowerment of Malayalam,” focuses on making digital services more inclusive. This means enabling people to access government services, education, and healthcare using their voice, in their native language.

A key highlight of the event is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kerala government and the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD). This partnership will focus on developing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models and speech recognition systems specifically for the Malayalam language.

Amitabh Nag, CEO of the Digital India BHASHINI Division, emphasized the cultural significance of the Malayalam language. He stated that incorporating Malayalam into the BHASHINI initiative is a significant move towards creating a truly multilingual Digital India.

The workshop will bring together policymakers, tech experts, academics, and industry leaders to discuss and explore the possibilities of voice-based technology. Demonstrations of BHASHINI’s tools for multilingual governance are also being showcased.

Two new initiatives are also being launched at the event:

  • Bhashini Samudaye: This initiative will establish State Language Missions to promote the adoption of digital technologies in local languages.
  • Bhashadaan: A platform that encourages citizens to contribute Malayalam voice and text data. This data will be used to train and improve the accuracy of AI language models.

This workshop is expected to build a strong foundation for making digital public services in Kerala more accessible and relevant to all its citizens by breaking down language barriers.

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Paytm Editorial Team

The Paytm Editorial Team is a collaborative group of writers, editors, and industry experts. We're dedicated to bringing you the latest insights, news, and guides on digital payments, financial services, and the technology that's shaping India's economy. We offer easy-to-follow guides and insights to help you explore Paytm’s products, features, and services. Our goal is to provide clear, reliable, and helpful information to empower you on your financial journey.

FAQs

What is the BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop about?

The workshop is a collaboration between the central government (MeitY) and the Kerala government to integrate the Malayalam language into digital governance.The main goal is to enable citizens to access essential services using their voice in Malayalam.

What is the key outcome of this workshop?

A major outcome is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kerala government and the Digital India BHASHINI Division. This agreement will facilitate the development of AI models and speech recognition systems specifically for the Malayalam language

What does "voice-first digital governance" mean?

It means creating a system where people can interact with digital government services, such as healthcare, education, and other public utilities, primarily using voice commands in their native language, reducing the need for typing or English proficiency.

How can citizens contribute to this initiative?

Citizens can contribute through the "Bhashadaan" platform. This initiative encourages individuals to donate Malayalam voice and text data, which helps in training and improving the accuracy of the AI language models.

What is Bhashini Samudaye?

Bhashini Samudaye is a new initiative launched at the workshop to create State Language Missions. These missions will lead the effort to adopt and promote the use of digital technologies in local languages across the state.
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