Maharashtra Forms AI Committee to Bring Artificial Intelligence Into Higher Education

The Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Department has constituted a 10-member AI, Data Analytics and Dashboard Governance Committee to explore the use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and automated decision-support systems in the state’s higher and technical education sector. The committee was established through a Government Resolution issued on September 21, 2026.

The initiative aims to use technology to analyse education-related data and support administrative decision-making across the state. Maharashtra’s existing education dashboard already contains information related to student enrolment, examinations, results, university affiliations, scholarships, public libraries and research publications.

AI to Support Education Administration

The new committee will examine ways to transform this data from a reporting resource into an evidence-based decision-support system.

The proposed framework includes the use of technologies such as Generative AI, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Optical Character Recognition, Computer Vision and anomaly detection. These technologies could be used to identify patterns, monitor education data and flag potential irregularities or issues for further examination.

The committee will also work on integrating and standardising information available across different government education systems. Platforms mentioned in reports include MahaDBT, AISHE, e-Office, MIS, the NOC Portal and Sevarth.

Who Will Lead the Committee?

Prof Rajnish Kamat, Vice-Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur, has been appointed chairman of the committee.

The panel includes officials and technical experts from Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Department, Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Technical Education and other state education bodies. Prashant Visalkar, a project manager with the Directorate of Higher Education, will serve as member secretary.

The committee has an initial three-year mandate and is expected to meet at least once every quarter. It will also submit progress reports to the state education department.

Focus on AI Ethics and Data Security

AI adoption in education will not be limited to automation. The committee has also been tasked with looking at cybersecurity, data protection, privacy and ethical AI use.

It will recommend guidelines for the responsible use of AI and examine ways to maintain human oversight when technology is used for education-related decision-making. The committee may also recommend training programmes on AI, Generative AI and digital transformation for government officials and education-sector personnel.

What It Means for Higher Education

For students and universities, the initiative could eventually mean greater use of data-driven systems for areas such as enrolment monitoring, examinations, scholarships, university administration and research tracking.

However, the committee itself is primarily focused on governance and administration, rather than directly changing what students study in classrooms. The practical impact on students will depend on which AI projects are eventually approved and implemented by the Maharashtra government.

The move reflects a wider shift toward using AI not only as an academic subject but also as an administrative tool within education systems.