Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Thursday, 18 June 2026, conducted a detailed review of the state's Department of Science and Technology and directed officials to fast-track all investment projects under the department, while announcing plans to develop an 'EKAI CITY — Education, Knowledge and AI City' in Bhopal and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for medical, science and technical education in Ujjain.

Context

At the review meeting, Dr. Mohan Yadav directed officials to ensure that all investment projects under the science and technology department are brought to ground level swiftly. He called for effective efforts to attract maximum investment in the science and technology sector, describing the potential as 'अपार संभावनाएं' (immense possibilities). The Chief Minister's directives signal a push to translate announced projects into tangible on-ground progress.

Policy Backdrop

EKAI CITY is proposed to be developed in Bhopal on the lines of Gujarat's GIFT City — the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City near Gandhinagar, which was formally conceptualised in 2007 as a global financial and technology hub. The Madhya Pradesh government has indicated that the central government will provide financial assistance of ₹10,000 crore for the EKAI CITY project. Several Indian states have pursued similar specialised city projects to attract private investment in emerging sectors such as fintech, AI and education by replicating the GIFT City model.

In Ujjain, the state is already developing a Medi City, a Science City, and an engineering college. Dr. Yadav directed officials to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the city that would bring medical, science and technical education under one umbrella, and to coordinate with the central government for the same. The move reflects a broader state strategy of integrating existing urban projects with new knowledge-economy infrastructure.

Stakeholders and Impact

The proposed projects are expected to benefit AI and technology investors, students, researchers, and medical and engineering professionals across Madhya Pradesh. EKAI CITY is designed to position Bhopal as a destination for knowledge-economy investment, while the Ujjain CoE would consolidate the city's emerging role as an education and research hub. Both initiatives are aligned with the national digital economy and skilling agenda that has driven state-central coordination on infrastructure in recent years.

The Department of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, has been tasked with reviewing and accelerating these investment projects. Officials have been asked to actively pursue central government coordination to unlock the stated ₹10,000 crore in financial assistance for EKAI CITY and to formalise the CoE proposal for Ujjain.

What's Next

The immediate milestones to watch are central government approval and the formal release of the ₹10,000 crore assistance for EKAI CITY, followed by tendering and land acquisition timelines for the Bhopal project. For Ujjain, the establishment of the CoE will depend on coordination between the state and central governments. Progress on these fronts will determine whether Madhya Pradesh can translate its science and technology ambitions into a competitive investment destination on par with established hubs elsewhere in India.