Maharashtra signs MoU with Microsoft for three AI Centres of Excellence
The Maharashtra government signed an MoU with Microsoft in Mumbai on 1 April 2025 to set up three Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur and to speed up AI adoption in the state administration.
Summary
The Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft in Mumbai on 1 April 2025, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to set up three Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centres of Excellence and accelerate AI adoption in the state administration. A Centre for Geospatial Analytics in Mumbai, hosted in the Chief Secretary's office, will support governance decisions through satellite imagery analysis, spatial data management and GIS-based applications. A centre in Pune will integrate AI with existing forensic science infrastructure to improve criminal investigation, forensic data analysis and evidence management. In Nagpur, the Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws (MARVEL) centre will focus on AI-driven enforcement, monitoring, vigilance and governance reforms. Microsoft will provide training and certification to government employees through its MS Learn platform.
Key facts
- Signed
- 1 April 2025, Mumbai, in the presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis
- Partner
- Microsoft
- Mumbai
- Centre for Geospatial Analytics, in the Chief Secretary's office
- Pune
- AI integrated with forensic science infrastructure
- Nagpur
- MARVEL: AI for enforcement, monitoring, vigilance and governance reforms
- Training
- Microsoft MS Learn training and certification for government employees
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Under the MoU signed with Microsoft on 1 April 2025, Maharashtra will set up AI Centres of Excellence in which three cities?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur
Akashvani News, The Times of India and PTI: the three AI Centres of Excellence will be in Mumbai (geospatial analytics), Pune (forensic AI) and Nagpur (MARVEL).
Under the Maharashtra–Microsoft MoU of 1 April 2025, the Centre for Geospatial Analytics in Mumbai will be hosted in the:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Chief Secretary's office
Akashvani News and PTI: the Mumbai Centre for Geospatial Analytics will be hosted in the Chief Secretary's office and support governance through satellite imagery, spatial data and GIS applications.