School curriculum in state rejigged

 School curriculum in state rejigged to align with NCERT

Extract from the article:
The Maharashtra government has announced plans to implement an NCERT-based curriculum starting with Class 1 from the academic year 2025-26. This marks a significant shift as state board schools will gradually transition to adopting the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) timetable. The overarching goal is to synchronize the academic calendar of Maharashtra’s schools with that of the CBSE, paving the way for a more unified and standardized education framework across the state.

This move is expected to underpin a more cohesive educational system which not only aligns with national standards but also promotes greater parity in learning experiences for students studying under different boards. It represents an effort to reduce disparities in curriculum design and bring state students on par with their peers across India, potentially enhancing competitiveness, mobility, and uniformity in education delivery.

My Take:

A. Congratulations, Smt Varshaji
"Government ties up with Google to start Virtual Classes...Students and teachers will get access to Google Classroom and G Suite for Education that will provide solutions to support remote learning. The tools allow interactive sessions, which will allow teachers to explain lessons, and students can also ask their doubts while sitting at home...Coronavirus has forced us to adopt the changes that were supposed to come in the future."

Looking back, I had applauded Maharashtra’s pioneering vision in integrating virtual classrooms through collaboration with Google. That initiative truly laid the foundation for modernizing education and brought forth technological inclusivity at an unprecedented scale within the state. The current plan to implement an NCERT curriculum resonates with that forward momentum — it is a natural progression from adopting digital tools to now standardizing educational content and timetables. Both efforts exhibit a desire to embrace innovation and uniformity simultaneously, showing how infrastructural readiness complements curricular reforms. Reflecting on those earlier strides, it becomes clear that the groundwork for systemic change was being laid well in advance, and these reforms are reaping the benefits of such early foresight.

B. Simple Summary of Sankalp
"Will open 200 Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas by 2024...Will formulate new regulatory mechanism to provide autonomy to quality institutions...Providing access to leading journals, free of cost, to students from National Digital Library of India...Will formulate National Policy for Reskilling and Upskilling for Industry-responsive workforce."

Reading the current developments in Maharashtra’s school system against the backdrop of visionary policies like Sankalp, I realize how deeply interconnected these efforts are. The emphasis on expanding quality educational institutions and ensuring autonomy aligns well with harmonizing curricula to a national standard like NCERT. This standardization facilitates mobility and access to uniformly recognized knowledge frameworks, which is crucial for students’ holistic growth, consistent with Sankalp’s objectives of excellence and inclusivity. Furthermore, as the state recalibrates its academic calendar to mirror the CBSE, this synchronization feeds directly into creating an ecosystem conducive to reskilling and upskilling in later educational stages, nurturing a workforce ready for modern challenges. This systemic alignment reflects the continuous thread from policy vision to ground-level execution.

Call to Action:
To the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT) and the Education Ministry, I urge you to ensure that the rollout of the NCERT curriculum is accompanied by comprehensive teacher training and digital infrastructure readiness, reminiscent of your earlier successful implementation of virtual classrooms. Equipping educators with the right pedagogical tools and technological competence is critical for this transition to be meaningful and effective. Additionally, continuous feedback mechanisms must be established to incorporate teacher, student, and parent inputs, ensuring adaptability and inclusiveness in implementation. Let’s collectively embrace this opportunity to not only standardize education but also to elevate its quality across Maharashtra, fostering an empowered generation of learners.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

State's AI policy

 State's AI policy to be released in April: Shelar

Extract from the article:
The state of Maharashtra is gearing up to unveil its own AI policy by April, positioning itself as the pioneering Indian state to formalize a comprehensive framework specifically targeting Artificial Intelligence governance. This initiative reflects an acute awareness of the need to strategically address burgeoning AI technologies through a state-specific lens, focusing heavily on critical sectors such as education and cyber security.

The policy aims to accelerate AI adoption while simultaneously ensuring ethical safeguards, educational integration, and robust cybersecurity protocols that preserve citizen privacy and deter cyber threats. Maharashtra’s move is emblematic of a growing trend among regional governments taking proactive steps in domains traditionally guided by national legislations—highlighting the dynamic interplay between policy innovation and political strategy within sub-national entities in India.

My Take:

A. Dear Ashwini Vaishnawji, I Hope This Email Finds You in Good Spirit
Reflecting upon my earlier discourse on AI regulation at the state level, it is fascinating to witness how Maharashtra has actualized concepts I discussed years ago. Back then, I emphasized the nascent importance of AI ethics bills and the role of states in spearheading technology governance even without overarching national frameworks. The current policy announcement validates the foresight embedded in those reflections, underscoring how regional leadership can sculpt pioneering blueprints that potentially influence national paradigms.

I had also highlighted the embryonic state of AI governance in India and the cautious optimism regarding the impact of such initiatives. Now, Maharashtra boldly stepping forward to craft its AI policy encapsulates this evolution—from abstract debate to concrete governmental strategy—illustrating the fluid dynamics of political nomination, where visionary ideas incubated at a granular level rise to policy prominence.

B. United Nations Agency for Regulating AI
In my prior contemplations about a UN-backed risk-based regulatory framework for AI usage, I explored how multi-tiered governance could harmonize innovation with ethical imperatives globally. Maharashtra's AI policy dovetails intriguingly with those concepts, albeit operating within a state boundary rather than a multinational consortium. The focus on sectors like education and cybersecurity embodies the risk-stratified ethos I advocated—acknowledging that AI’s implications vary widely and thus demand calibrated policy responses.

Furthermore, this development symbolizes the diffusion of global ideas into local contexts—proof that international discourse on AI ethics and regulation is permeating the political nomination landscape in India’s states. This decentralization of AI policy-making bolsters resilience, allowing tailored regulations that are responsive to unique socio-political factors while staying aligned with emerging international norms I had envisaged.

Call to Action:
Dear Honorable Chief Minister and the Maharashtra State AI Policy Taskforce, as you finalize this landmark AI policy, I urge you to prioritize transparent stakeholder engagement, inviting academia, industry leaders, and civil society voices into the process. Incorporate iterative impact assessments that guarantee adaptability and ensure the policy remains future-proof amid AI’s rapid evolution. By doing so, Maharashtra won’t just be the first—it will set a replicable standard of political foresight and responsible governance that other states and the nation can emulate.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

Keep Track of AII Cos

 Statistical Business Register in Works to keep Track of AII Cos

Extract from the article:
The government of India is taking a significant step towards creating a comprehensive and dynamic repository of business data by developing a National Statistical Business Register (NSBR). This register aims to systematically catalogue every business enterprise in the country, from microenterprises to large corporations, across all districts. The intention is to digitize and continuously update this data, leveraging multiple data sources such as the Goods and Services Tax Network, Employees State Insurance Corporation, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, and records maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. By doing so, economic activity can be better monitored, and policy formulation can be informed with granular and real-time data.

This ambitious initiative is not only about creating a static database but about building an ecosystem that fosters transparency and ease of doing business. The data captured in the NSBR will include crucial business parameters such as enterprise name, location, activities, ownership structure, workforce size, and tax identification numbers like PAN and TAN. Over time, this register is expected to become a backbone for statistical assessments, promoting efficiency in governance, compliance monitoring, and aiding in targeted economic interventions. The envisioned dynamic updating mechanism ensures that the register remains current, reflecting the true pulse of the Indian business landscape.

My Take:

A. A Reform by Re-naming
"Governments often conceive statistical bodies as passive recipients of data rather than proactive entities that should operate with financial autonomy and entrepreneurial spirit. I had previously argued that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) should be treated akin to a corporation infused with equity to generate its own revenue streams. This financial self-sustainability would make the statistical system more resilient and independent. For instance, selling aggregated and anonymized data products as per government policy could be a viable source of income. Such a model ensures the statistical agency is not entirely dependent on government grants or political whims, enhancing credibility and efficiency."

Looking at the current developments around the National Statistical Business Register, I see a clear alignment with this philosophy. The creation of a comprehensive register itself can evolve into an operational unit that collects, processes, and monetizes data responsibly. My earlier advocacy for treating the NSC not like a traditional public sector undertaking but as a semi-autonomous corporation resonates strongly here. This approach adds an entrepreneurial dimension to statistical governance, which can improve service delivery and data quality.

B. One Stop Shops
"When I discussed the emergence of a National Statistical Business Register as a pivotal initiative, I underscored the importance of multi-source data integration. A business register isn’t just a static list; it should be a living system, continuously enriched with inputs from GST returns, ESI and EPFO databases, and corporate affairs records. This integration facilitates a holistic view of economic entities that is vital to policymaking, compliance verification, and research."

Reflecting on the current announcement, it is evident that the government is moving in precisely this direction. The NSBR’s real potential lies in its regular updates from disparate databases, enabling a live pulse rather than a relic of periodic censuses. Digitization at this scale and detail will elevate India’s statistical capacity, transforming macroeconomic policymaking and enabling micro-level insights. The foresight shared in my earlier blog presages this evolution, emphasizing data interoperability and coherence across government platforms.

Call to Action:
To the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and allied agencies, I urge a relentless focus on transparency, data governance, and stakeholder collaboration as the NSBR takes shape. Consider establishing independent oversight and clear protocols for data privacy and security to build trust among enterprises. Additionally, embed mechanisms for feedback and periodic audit of data accuracy from business entities themselves. This will ensure that the register remains both authoritative and dynamic, driving India’s economic development with empirical rigor.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

RTI Act

 Civil Society seeks Rollback of DPDP changes to RTI Act

Extract from the article:
The article outlines current civil society concerns regarding recent amendments introduced under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) framework and their consequential impact on the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Civil society organizations are vociferously advocating for a rollback of these changes, which they fear could dilute the effectiveness of the RTI Act—a cornerstone legislation that safeguards transparency and accountability in governance. The alterations threaten to introduce opaque data privacy standards that inadvertently obstruct public access to crucial information, undermining democratic oversight.

Moreover, the piece highlights how these amendments might curtail citizens’ rights by imposing onerous conditions or ambiguous clauses that hinder information disclosures under RTI requests. Activists and legal experts argue that while data protection is essential, it should not come at the cost of transparency. They call upon lawmakers and regulatory bodies to revisit these provisions to ensure a delicate balance between protecting personal data and preserving public access to government-held information—integral to upholding the very fabric of participatory democracy.

My Take:

A. What Got Achieved?
Reflecting on my earlier analysis about governmental accountability and transparency, I had stressed that political manifestos must not only promise but also clearly communicate tangible achievements with precise metrics and investment rationales. The current calls to safeguard the RTI Act resonate strongly with my previous contention that opaque processes and lack of clear reports hamper trust and democratic engagement. In that 2019 blog, I pondered how without transparent disclosures, citizens are left in the dark about progress—rendering oversight mechanisms feeble.

This issue runs parallel with the challenges posed by the DPDP Act changes. If data protection reforms obscure official disclosures or complicate information retrieval, then the very purpose of democratic accountability is imperiled. Hence, reinforcing transparency, as I advocated years ago, is not merely a bureaucratic exercise but a democratically vital imperative—as relevant today as ever.

B. Structural Reforms
Years back, I envisioned the transformative potential of embedding responsible reforms that marry citizen participation with technology-enabled transparency. My proposal included online opinion polls and publishing quarterly performance reviews of government targets versus actual achievements to foster accountability directly through public engagement. The current uproar over DPDP’s amendments reaffirms the criticality of such frameworks—a reminder that reforms must be participatory and robust rather than restrictive or convoluted.

The backlash from civil society spotlights a vital lesson I advocated: technological or legislative reforms should not become smokescreens that constrict citizen empowerment but rather be catalytic for openness and inclusion. Balancing data privacy with unimpeded access to information demands an iterative dialogue between policymakers and the populace, a process I emphasized as essential structural reform.

C. Digital Provident Fund: Unparalleled Opportunity
In an earlier proposal for a Digital Provident Fund that would democratize financial benefits and channel funds into productive infrastructure projects, the underlying principle was to harness digital innovation for citizen benefit and transparency. The current situation—where digital data privacy laws risk curtailing transparency—illuminates the double-edged nature of digital legislation. My concept envisioned empowerment through digital tools, enabling citizens to track, benefit, and engage with governance outcomes clearly.

The lesson here is that digital policy frameworks need to rigorously prioritize openness alongside protection—ensuring that data safeguards do not become barriers to accountability. Revisiting my earlier vision for digitally enabled governance reminds us that technological progress, policy reforms, and citizen rights must harmonize seamlessly.

Call to Action:
To the policymakers spearheading the DPDP amendments and the custodians of the RTI framework: I urge you to pause and re-examine these changes through the prism of democratic transparency. Engage meaningfully with civil society and data rights experts to recalibrate the laws so that they protect individuals’ data without erecting labyrinthine barriers to information access. Uphold the inviolable balance between privacy and openness—ensuring that the Right to Information remains an unassailable pillar of our democracy.

A legislative rollback or meaningful revision to align DPDP with RTI objectives is not just advisable; it is imperative. The health of our democracy depends upon it.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

IndiaAGI is for 140 Crores in 9 Languages : and FREE

 

 

Hon. Shri Ashwini Vaishnawji ,

 

IndiaAGI.ai represents a paradigm shift in how AI services are delivered, aligning perfectly with your vision for India's AI leadership and digital sovereignty:

 

1.       Open Source:   A Foundation for Trust and Innovation

 

While global AI platforms operate as closed, proprietary systems, IndiaAGI.ai stands apart as a fully open-source initiative.

This approach :

- Enables transparency – The code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing for scrutiny and

                                             verification

- Fosters innovation    –   Developers worldwide can contribute to improving the system

- Builds trust                 –   Users and regulators can verify how the system works, rather than relying

                                             on corporate assurances

- Creates a knowledge commons  – Establishes India as a leader in collaborative AI development

 

This open-source model directly addresses the trust and transparency concerns you highlighted in your recent statements on AI regulation.

 

2.    From Single-model to Multi-model Collaboration

 

IndiaAGI.ai implements the "team of agents" approach advocated by leading AI researchers:

 

 " I believe the next stage in improving trustworthiness will be the replacement of individual AI agents with cooperating teams of agents that continually fact-check each other and try to keep each other honest. "

 —   Henry Kautz, Professor of Computer Science, University of Virginia

 

Rather than relying on a single AI system's capabilities and biases, IndiaAGI.ai leverages the collective intelligence of multiple leading LLMs, creating a more robust and trustworthy system.

 

3.    From Commercial Product to Digital Public Good

 

While global platforms charge  ₹ 1,750-2,500  monthly, IndiaAGI.ai positions AI as a digital public good— free and accessible to all Indians.

This approach:

 

-  Democratizes access  –          Ensures AI benefits are available to all citizens regardless of economic

                                                       status

-  Reduces dependency  –          Decreases India's reliance on foreign commercial AI platforms

-  Aligns with DPI success   –     Follows the successful model of UPI, Aadhaar, and other Digital Public

                                                       Infrastructure initiatives

 

4.    India-centric by Design

 

By prioritizing Indian languages, contexts, and use cases, IndiaAGI.ai embodies the "AI for Bharat" vision.

The platform's community development model allows for:

 

-  Specialized modules  -    for Indian sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance

-  Cultural nuance         -     in responses that reflect Indian values and contexts

-  Regional language support  -   that goes beyond translation to understand cultural context

 

Policy Implications and Recommendations

 

IndiaAGI.ai provides a technical implementation of the "human-centric AI governance" model you recently discussed with Forbes India.

I respectfully suggest considering the following policy actions:

 

1.       Official recognition

-           

-          of IndiaAGI.ai as a reference implementation for India's AI regulatory framework

 

2.       Government adoption

       for citizen services, demonstrating commitment to transparent, accessible AI

 

3.       Educational integration

       in schools and universities to build AI literacy using an open platform

 

4.       Developer incentives

       to contribute to the open-source ecosystem, creating an innovation flywheel

 

5.       International promotion

       as India's model for ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI development

 

This platform demonstrates how India can lead not just in AI regulation, but in creating AI systems that embody our democratic values of transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility—while maintaining technological sovereignty through an open-source approach.

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh   /  29 May 2025

Table 1: Core Features and Accessibility

LLM Platform	Languages Supported (Including Indian)	Input Modes	Subscription Cost (₹/Month)
GPT-4o (OpenAI)	English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Urdu, and more	Text & Voice	₹1,999/month (approx.)
Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic)	English, French, German, Japanese, Hindi (limited), etc.	Text & Voice	~₹2,500/month (estimated)
Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google)	English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Urdu, others	Text & Voice	₹1,950/month (approx.)
Grok 3 (xAI/Elon Musk)	English only	Text & Voice	₹1,750/month (approx.)
🌐 IndiaAGI.ai	English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam	Text & Voice	₹  0  –  Completely Free

 

Table 2: Technical Capabilities and Development Model

LLM Platform	Primary Differentiating Feature	Context Window Size	Development Model
GPT-4o (OpenAI)	Multimodal intelligence with real-time voice + image understanding	128,000 tokens	Proprietary, closed-source
Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic)	Ethical reasoning via "Constitutional AI"; strong long-context understanding	200,000 tokens	Proprietary, closed-source
Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google)	Tight integration with Google tools; strong Indian language support	1,000,000 tokens	Proprietary, closed-source
Grok 3 (xAI/Elon Musk)	Real-time access to X (Twitter); humor-infused personality	25,000 tokens	Proprietary, closed-source
🌐 IndiaAGI.ai	Free, collaborative consensus by GPT-4o, Gemini, Claude & Grok	Leverages all constituent models	Open-source, community-driven

Table 3: Transparency and Governance

LLM Platform	Response Transparency	Data Privacy & Governance	Community Participation
GPT-4o (OpenAI)	Single model perspective	Commercial data usage policies, US-based governance	Limited to approved partners
Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic)	Single model perspective	Constitutional AI approach, US-based governance	Limited to approved partners
Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google)	Single model perspective	Google data policies, US-based governance	Limited to approved partners
Grok 3 (xAI/Elon Musk)	Single model perspective	X integration, less restrictive policies, US-based governance	Limited to approved partners
🌐 IndiaAGI.ai	Multi-model debate visible to users	India-centric data governance, no data retention, privacy-first approach	Open to global developer community via GitHub

Table 4: Indian Context and Strategic Value

LLM Platform	Specialized Knowledge of Indian Context	India-Centric Design	Strategic Alignment with Digital India
GPT-4o (OpenAI)	Good but generalized	Limited	Commercial service provider
Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic)	Limited	Minimal	Commercial service provider
Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google)	Strong but commercial focus	Partial	Commercial service provider
Grok 3 (xAI/Elon Musk)	Limited	Minimal	Commercial service provider
🌐 IndiaAGI.ai	Excellent - specialized for Indian cultural, legal, and social contexts	Comprehensive	Digital Public Good aligned with India's tech sovereignty

 

 

 

 

Highlights

 

 Section 1 :    Accessibility and User Experience

🔓   Open to All   –                 No login or registration needed 

  Voice + Text Input                      -     Supported across platforms 

🌍    Multilingual Interface                –   9 Indian languages (English + 8 regional) 

🎧    Audio Output                              –   Listen to answers in your chosen language 

🔍   Transparent AI Reasoning         –   View the multi-round debate between different LLMs 

📱   Device Compatibility                  –   Works across smartphones, tablets, and computers

 

Section 2 :   AI Quality and Innovation

🤖      AI Collaboration                        –   Combines the reasoning of 4 major LLMs in 3 rounds of debate 

✅ *  Consensus-Based Answers      –   Synthesized from collective LLM reasoning 

🔄   Continuous Improvement       –   System evolves as constituent LLMs improve 

🛡️ Reduced Bias                            –   Multiple AI models check and balance each other 

📊   Educational Value                     –   See how different AI systems approach the same question

 

Section 3 :   Open Source and Community Collaboration

💻    Fully Open Source         – Complete source code available on GitHub for transparency and

                                                     community development 

🌱   Community-Driven   –      Global developers invited to contribute to India's AI ecosystem 

🔧   Extensible Architecture  –   Developers can integrate additional AI models and specialized

                                                        modules 

🧠   Collaborative Intelligence   –  Implements the "team of agents" approach advocated by AI experts 

🔬 Domain Specialization       –   Community can develop modules for healthcare, education, finance,

                                                         and more

 

Section 4 :    Strategic Importance for India

🇮  India-First Design Philosophy     –    Built specifically for Indian users 

  Digital Public Infrastructure     –      Positions AI as a public utility rather than a commercial

                                                                    product 

🧩    API Integration Potential    –   For developers to integrate into Indian applications 

  Data Sovereignty                 –   Aligns with India's digital sovereignty goals 

  Global Template                  –   Demonstrates how AI can be designed to be inclusive, transparent,

                                                          and accessible