MoPR and Bhashini Join Hands to Break Language Barriers in Rural Governance with Real-Time AI Translation on eGramSwaraj

In a significant step towards strengthening citizen-centric digital governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and Bhashini, the National Language Translation Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in New Delhi. 

The partnership aims to enable real-time multilingual access to the eGramSwaraj platform, thereby deepening inclusivity and improving ease of access for rural stakeholders across the country.

The event was graced by Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, MoPR, Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini and Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Adviser, MoPR. The MoU was signed by Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini, marking the commencement of this strategic collaboration.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel described the collaboration as a transformative step towards inclusive governance, one that respects India’s rich linguistic diversity and uses technology to empower every citizen. 

He emphasised that the integration of Bhashini’s advanced AI translation technology with the eGramSwaraj platform will significantly enhance service delivery and governance by enabling communication in multiple Indian languages, especially at the grassroots level. 

This, he noted, will make governance more participatory, localised, and citizen-centric. Prof. Baghel highlighted how the strategic and meaningful implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) over the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has transformed the lives of millions of rural citizens. 

Digital infrastructure has significantly strengthened service delivery and accountability, contributing to greater Ease of Living in rural areas. Platforms like eGramSwaraj have enabled the digital disbursement of  crores of rupees in a transparent and efficient manner. 

He appreciated the co-location of Common Service Centres with Panchayat Bhawans, which has made access to digital services seamless for rural citizens, and pointed to the emergence of state-of-the-art Panchayat Bhawans as symbols of modern, responsive local governance.

Congratulating the teams of MoPR, Bhashini and MeitY, Prof. Baghel said that this initiative marks a bold step towards empowering Panchayats through technology – making them digitally capable, citizen-focused and more connected with people in their own languages. 

He affirmed that this MoU is not just a technical integration, but a symbol of democratic inclusivity, taking India closer to the vision of digitally empowered, self-reliant villages.Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, described the MoU with Bhashini, MeitY as a historic and forward-looking initiative that will strengthen inclusive governance by bridging language barriers through technology. 

He highlighted that Bhashini will make government platforms like eGramSwaraj more accessible by enabling communication and service delivery in multiple Indian languages, especially at the grassroots. He appreciated Bhashini’s role in developing translation tools that support voice and text-based interactions, allowing citizens to easily connect with public services – even through basic mobile phones. 

Shri Bharadwaj expressed confidence that this collaboration will empower over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats to deliver timely and accurate information related to health, education, agriculture, and welfare in local languages.

He also noted that the Ministry has successfully used Bhashini in national events to facilitate communication among participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), stated that the partnership between MoPR and Bhashini is already active and the MoU has now given this meaningful collaboration a formal structure. 

He emphasized that the goal of the Bhashini initiative is to deliver government services to every citizen in their own language using technology. Shri Singh shared that language tools developed by Bhashini are now integrated across most government websites, generating over 100 crore uses (inferences) so far – of which nearly 15 crore inferences have come from platforms under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj alone. 

He highlighted how Bhashini will support Panchayats in improving service delivery, record-keeping, and communication in simple language. Future initiatives like Bhashini Udyat(Integration of language translation APIs), Bhashini Mitra(development of new translation models), Bhashini Appmitra(Integration of spellcheckers, grammar tools etc.), Bhashini Sahyogi (Bhashadaan platform access), and Bhashini Pravakta(outreach to promote vernacular digital governance) will help bring digital services closer to rural citizens in their mother tongues.

The programme also featured the playing of the Bhashini Anthem, a powerful symbol of India’s linguistic unity, rendered by renowned Indian artists and resonating with the spirit of inclusivity.Following the MoU signing, a short launch video was screened, showcasing the integration of Bhashini’s AI-powered translation layer with eGramSwaraj – the flagship digital platform of MoPR used by over 2.5 lakh Panchayats for planning, budgeting, and reporting.

This integration enables real-time multilingual interface translation in 22 scheduled Indian languages, driven by Bhashini’s advanced Large Language Models and AI/ML technologies, making digital governance more accessible than ever before.