Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inaugurated the 29th National e-Governance Conference at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur on 1 July 2025, marking the state's most significant digital governance showcase in recent years. The two-day event has drawn representatives from more than 80 Union Ministries and departments, 28 states, and 8 Union Territories.

Key Launches at the Conference

Chief Minister Sharma used the inaugural session to launch three major initiatives: the Services Management with Artificial Intelligence and Real Time System (SMART) Project, the e-Mitra WhatsApp Service, and the Rajasthan Innovation Challenge. He also unveiled a coffee-table book documenting the state's digital governance milestones.

The e-Mitra WhatsApp Service allows citizens to access 27 government services by sending 'Hi' to WhatsApp number 9461062700. Services available through the platform include payment of electricity and water bills, applications for various certificates, and access to a range of other government facilities. According to the state government, the initiative is aimed at reducing the need for repeated visits to government offices and e-Mitra centres.

Modi's Digital Vision Since 2014

Addressing the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of leveraging technology for good governance since 2014 has transformed public service delivery across the country. He highlighted that the Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) trinity has eliminated the role of middlemen in welfare delivery, while Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has ensured that government scheme benefits are credited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts.

Sharma further noted that flagship programmes such as Digital India and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have significantly accelerated India's digital transformation. This comes amid a broader national push to position India as a global leader in digital public infrastructure.

Industry Round-Table and Digital Policy Push

Following the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sharma participated in a round-table discussion with industry representatives. He said the Rajasthan government has introduced progressive policies to promote data centres, artificial intelligence, and technology-driven innovation, and assured entrepreneurs of the state's full support in building a robust digital ecosystem.

Chief Minister Sharma also inaugurated and toured an exhibition showcasing technology-enabled government services and innovative digital solutions before the formal proceedings began.

Officials and Dignitaries Present

The conference was attended by Rajasthan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Information Technology and Communication Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Department of Information Technology and Communication Secretary Ravi Kumar Surpur. A large number of entrepreneurs, technology experts, and startup representatives also participated.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh is scheduled to attend the conference on Thursday, 2 July 2025. The event is expected to set the agenda for digital governance priorities across states and Union Territories in the coming year.