West Bengal Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026–2029
From AI Adoption to State AI Capability — A Governance Architecture Benchmarked Against 9 Indian States
// Authors & Affiliations
Quantum Tiger Research
Applied Policy Division, Morning Bay Technology
Pro bono policy research group at Quantum Tiger providing independent, evidence-grounded frameworks for Indian government bodies and state administrations.
LinkedIn Profile →// Executive Abstract
Following West Bengal’s June 2026 budget announcement of the West Bengal Impact AI Mission and GCC policy incentives, this report sets out a comprehensive governance architecture to move the state from consumer adoption to institutional capability. Benchmarking West Bengal against nine peer states (Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat), the paper details 10 pivotal cabinet decisions, a 4-tier risk classification (Prohibited, High, Limited, Low), mandatory statutory AI Impact Assessments, and a Bengali-first public service delivery standard.
Research Methodology & Theoretical Framework
Comparative state policy benchmarking cross-referencing cabinet resolutions, GCC and data center policies, budget allocations, and MeitY/DPDP statutory guidelines across 9 Indian states.
Key Findings & Technical Breakthroughs
Institutional Gap: West Bengal announced its Impact AI Mission, but requires a statutory Mission Director, risk owners, and independent audit functions to avoid becoming a dormant press release.
Odisha & Karnataka Benchmarks: Transferable best practices include Odisha’s two-tier Taskforce/Cell structure and Karnataka’s Nipuna AI workforce skilling model.
Risk-Tiered Public Procurement: Classifies government AI into Prohibited, High, Limited, and Low risk, enforcing mandatory impact assessments on high-risk welfare systems before deployment.
Bengali-First Language Inclusivity: Mandates high-accuracy Bengali-language voice and text interfaces for all citizen-facing AI services to ensure digital inclusion outside urban English-speaking bubbles.
Policy & Industrial Implications
Serves as an objective, pro-bono policy consultation draft for state legislators, administrative secretaries, industry bodies (NASSCOM, CII), and academic centers across West Bengal.
// Subject Classifications & Keywords
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