For India’s newly inaugurated Parliament building, a revamped version of the Digital Sansad app has been launched to provide a platform to stream parliamentary proceedings. The app is revolutionising communication and collaboration among stakeholders in the sector. It will promote transparency in governance and foster citizen engagement by providing easy access to information and facilitating active participation in the democratic process.
The app aims to cater to the diverse needs of Members of Parliament (MPs), government users, citizens, and secretariat personnel. It offers a range of services tailored to each user group, leveraging state-of-the-art technology to provide an enhanced experience, according to the government.
The revamped Digital Sansad is equipped with a diverse range of advanced features. It serves as a centralised hub for accessing various parliamentary resources. It uses AI to transcribe House proceedings in real-time. The technology enables automatic speech recognition, accurately capturing and transcribing word-by-word spoken in Parliament, ensuring a comprehensive and precise record of the proceedings.
By leveraging AI-enabled transcription techniques, the Digital Sansad app guarantees the availability of precise and dependable records without the need for human intervention in the note-taking process. The approach significantly reduces the risk of errors or omissions, ensuring the accuracy of the transcribed content. Furthermore, it streamlines the documentation process and allows for the easy retrieval of information, benefiting not only MPs and researchers but also the broader public on a large scale.
The Digital Sansad app offers several resources and functionalities to boost parliamentary operations. Users can access information on House business, member participation, debates, Q&As, media galleries, and digital libraries. This comprehensive access enables MPs and citizens to stay informed and engaged in the legislative process. Furthermore, the app acts as a bridge between citizens and their representatives by facilitating open dialogue through the Constituency Connect feature.
By simplifying administrative tasks for MPs, the Digital Sansad app saves valuable time and bridges the gap between their legislative responsibilities and the needs of the public. The direct interaction facilitated by the app ensures transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the parliamentary processes, thereby fostering a robust democracy. The Digital Sansad 2.0 app is accessible on both Android and iOS platforms.
AI is playing an increasingly significant role in governance in India. The government has recognised the potential of AI to enhance decision-making, streamline administrative processes, and deliver efficient public services. It has also highlighted the importance of protecting data and ensuring the responsible use of AI.
Last month, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) established the Centre for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CeRAI), a multidisciplinary research centre dedicated to promoting ethical and accountable advancements in AI-powered solutions for practical applications.
As OpenGov Asia reported, CeRAI aims to establish itself as a leading research facility at both the national and international levels, focusing on fundamental and applied research in Responsible AI and its direct influence on implementing AI systems within the Indian ecosystem.
CeRAI’s main focus will be on generating high-quality research outputs, such as publishing research articles in high-impact journals/conferences, white papers, and patents, among others. It will work towards creating technical resources such as curated datasets (universal as well as India-specific), software, and toolkits pertaining to the field of Responsible AI.
