Governance must change for the AI age; next 20 years crucial for India, says Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said India’s systems of governance must undergo “revolutionary changes” to keep pace with the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and the country’s rising aspirations, calling the next two decades “extremely crucial” for national development.

Addressing a Mission Karmayogi workshop organised by the Capacity Building Commission in Vijayawada on September 29, 2026, Naidu said India now has a convergence of opportunities — from advanced technologies like AI to a large young population — and the key test is how effectively governance structures and public institutions respond.

“The next 20 years are extremely crucial for India’s development. Our systems and institutions have to undergo revolutionary changes during this period,” he said. “The IT revolution came earlier, and now it is the age of AI. We have to change accordingly.”

Capacity building at the core of reform

Naidu framed the government’s capacity-building agenda as central to meeting citizens’ expectations in a rapidly changing economy. He praised the Centre’s iGOT-Mission Karmayogi programme, steered by the Capacity Building Commission, as a platform enabling continuous upskilling for government employees across levels.

Online training, he said, equips officials — from the State secretariat to field staff — with updated competencies to enhance the quality, speed and reliability of public services. He stressed that regular training is essential to keep pace with technological change and evolving governance standards.

He cited individual examples to underline the idea that capacity building can elevate performance and opportunity. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s journey from selling tea at a railway station to leading the country, he said the story demonstrates how far people from humble backgrounds can rise in India’s democracy. Naidu also pointed to an Andhra Pradesh teacher who addressed the gathering after participating in capacity-building programmes as another example of the impact such initiatives can have.

Andhra Pradesh’s progress on iGOT-Mission Karmayogi

Naidu congratulated the state government machinery for completing two crore courses through the iGOT-Mission Karmayogi portal, a milestone he said places Andhra Pradesh among the leading states in leveraging the platform. The Mission Karmayogi initiative, he added, is also geared towards building leadership qualities among public servants.

He urged officials to devote more time to learning and capacity development rather than spending it on short-form entertainment, saying the focus should be on equipping oneself with new skills relevant to public service.

Real-time governance and data-driven administration

Outlining the State’s administrative toolkit, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is using Real Time Governance systems to continuously monitor government functioning and the quality of citizen services. He said platforms such as the State’s Data Lake and e-office are helping speed up decision-making, while key performance indicators are tracked consistently to guide field-level directions and course corrections.

He called for tighter integration of technology and administrative procedures to improve service delivery, and emphasised the importance of continuous information-sharing among departments for quicker, more informed decisions.

Regulatory simplification and the Jan Vishwas reforms

Linking governance reform to India’s larger economic journey, Naidu said the aspirations of Indians had shifted significantly after the economic reforms, and systems must evolve in response. He said the Jan Vishwas reforms have gained greater importance and argued that regulations should be aligned with changing requirements.

Unnecessary regulations that act as bottlenecks, he added, should be removed or simplified to foster innovation, investment and efficient public service.

Proactive administration and citizen-centric outcomes

Naidu urged the government machinery to develop the skills needed to identify and resolve issues before they escalate into crises. He said the administration must be prepared to promote welfare, drive development and enable wealth creation, with the overarching aim of improving the quality of life for every citizen.

He added that initiatives such as P4 could contribute to improving living standards, and reiterated that the common objective across departments should be to deliver better outcomes for people.

National context and global comparisons

Comparing India’s moment to China’s long-term transformation, Naidu said China began its economic modernisation in 1978 and systematically enhanced its capabilities in the decades that followed. India has comparable opportunities and resources, he argued, and should examine why it has lagged in utilising them fully in the past.

He noted that there was once global scepticism about India’s prospects when it was growing at 2% to 3%. Today, he said, India is growing faster than any other country. He described this shift as a function of the “right time, the right leader and the right place,” referencing Prime Minister Modi as the leader in his analysis.

Naidu also highlighted the success of Indians globally — including leadership roles at major technology companies such as Google and Microsoft — as evidence of the country’s talent. Regardless of changes in political leadership, he said, all Indians should work together to help the nation reach the highest levels of achievement.

Recognising frontline public service

Naidu praised government employees for their roles in managing natural disasters, conducting festivals and delivering major public programmes, often while setting aside family commitments. “We can never ignore them. These training programmes are being undertaken to enhance their capabilities and equip them with new skills,” he said.

Building partnerships for a skilled public sector

The Chief Minister called for broader participation in capacity-building efforts, urging universities and private organisations to be involved alongside government institutions. He recalled that the undivided Andhra Pradesh government had previously invested in upgrading the capabilities of officials and employees through its Human Resources Development Centre, and said similar collaborative models should be encouraged.

Shared goals for the next two decades

Naidu closed with an appeal for unity of purpose, noting that while India’s regions, languages and cultures are diverse, the collective goal should be to take the country to the top in the next 20 years. With the AI era accelerating change, he argued, governance must adapt swiftly, capacity building must be continuous and regulatory frameworks should support — rather than hinder — India’s ambitions.