Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Governance (DG)

About the Centre:

The Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Governance (DG) in being established in the National Law University, Tripura from the Academic Year (AY) 2025-26. Research on AI and Data Governance are being widely embraced across the country by all major stakeholders from Central Government to State Governments to Indian Judiciary, Indian Bar, Corporate entities in both manufacturing of goods and service delivery touching almost every sphere of human life and man-made creations.

“India has recognized the potential of AI and has been actively working towards its development and application across various sectors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various sectors in India, including healthcare, finance, and education among others. The country has a strong focus on research and development in AI, and the government has launched several initiatives to foster the development and adoption of AI. In 2018, the Indian government launched the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which focused on fostering AI development in specific sectors”, (Based on the Excerpts from website of the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, on India’s approach on the Artificial Intelligence).

Further the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of the Government of India has also started implementing the “National Program on Artificial Intelligence” with the goal of creating a comprehensive program for utilizing transformational technologies to promote inclusion, creativity, and adoption for social impact in order to actualize this vision of India AI. It includes the National Center on AI, Data Management Office, Skilling in AI, and Responsible AI as its four main pillars. This vision of investing in deployment of AI for enhancing services delivery at various verticals has also been embraced by the State Government of Tripura. The Government of Tripura has a committed focus on adopting Artificial Intelligence in enabling data-driven policymaking, augmenting service delivery mechanisms, and optimising administrative efficiency. Shri Jitendra Kumar Sinha, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Tripura, also recently spoken about the Government’s concentrated efforts and plan for deployment of AI and noted that “….the State’s notable digital governance initiatives, including eOffice, eCabinet, and the Beneficiary Management System. The Chief Secretary also articulated the strategic imperative of mainstreaming emerging technologies like AI into governance structures to foster transparency, accountability, and enhanced service quality. The Chief Secretary also highlighted the importance of institutionalising capacity building and advocating for the ethical, inclusive, and responsible deployment of AI across public sector systems”, (Based on Excerpts of Speech delivered during Sensitization and Capacity Building Workshop on “AI for Good Governance: Driving Transparency, Efficiency & Impact” at Pragna Bhawan, Agartala, on May 16, 2025).

With the similar approach and commitment to work closely with the Government of Tripura on the onboarding of artificial intelligence systems and framework across diverse sectors, NLU Tripura has decided to establish the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance. This would be another milestone for NLU Tripura to work closely with the Government and multi-stakeholders for Responsible use of AI across various verticals of service deliveries to the common man including issues of smarter public administration, better policing, improved traffic management system, robust AI facilitated smart city infrastructure, AI’s intervention and calibrated use in education, health care and many other essential services.

VISION

To promote responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence with deployment of privacy and security standards fostering accountable data governance, which can empower State and Non-State actors, and the societies to harness the full potential of AI  with fairness across all digital frontiers.

MANDATE

The Centre of Excellence for AI and Data Governance, will therefore focus on the four-fold mandate at the early phase of its creation:

• Industry Oriented Research and Knowledge Add on: The centre will produce industry usable research on AI and Data Governance which may also add to the new body of knowledge for enhancing academic and teaching capacities in the law schools.
• Collaborate with the Government: The centre will closely work with the Government of Tripura with sharing research inputs on policy matters concerning adaptation and deployment of AI in various sectors while ensuring privacy concerns and data protection which may feed into the discourse of data governance.
• AI Based Skills Training & Support: The centre will focus on imparting AI based skills to the youth and working professionals in Tripura across diverse fields in both Government and Private Sector. This may help in enhancing work place productivity of the people and also strengthen employability of the youth in Tripura.
• AI supported Legal Services: The centre will explore new dimensions of working with the State Judiciary and the Bar Associations across Tripura for shaping the legal tech and AI assisted legal and justice delivery services in the State of Tripura.

Note: The mandate of the Centre may be revised and expanded with progress of its work.