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Ministry of Panchayati Raj | National Informatics Centre (NIC)
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj provided a Parliamentary response about the SabhaSaar initiative, an AI-enabled voice-to-text meeting summarization tool for Gram Sabhas. It was launched on August 14, 2025 and represents a significant push to introduce Artificial Intelligence into local governance processes across the country.
Adoption and Training Status: As of the answer date (December 09, 2025), the initiative shows significant initial uptake
Adoption: A total of 16,634 Panchayats across India have adopted the SabhaSaar initiative.
Training: 12,960 Panchayat functionaries have been officially trained to use the voice-to-text summarization tool.
Leading State: The state with the highest adoption is Karnataka, accounting for 3,391 adopted Panchayats.
AI Governance and Data Security: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has addressed critical policy questions regarding the AI modelβs data handling and privacy mandates:
No External Data Transfer: The AI model used in SabhaSaar does not store or transmit audio/video recordings or data to any external servers or third-party service providers.
Data Storage and Access: All recordings and resulting data are stored locally on the e-GramSwaraj server. Access to the data is strictly restricted only to the Panchayat functionary who recorded the meeting.
Consent and Nodal Agency: Recording a Gram Sabha meeting requires a mandatory audio declaration of consent by the members present. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been officially designated as the nodal agency responsible for ensuring data protection and secure storage.
Monitoring and Integration: The Ministry noted that the Panchayat NIRNAY portal does not yet track Gram Sabha attendance, frequency, or resolution follow-up using SabhaSaar data. The full integration of the SabhaSaar data stream is currently being prioritized for the e-GramSwaraj portal, with work on integrating the NIRNAY portal ongoing.
Policy Relevance
This initiative serves as a model for leveraging AI at the grassroots level to enhance transparency and citizen participation in local governance. The explicit policy decision to ring-fence the data on government servers and designate a national agency (NIC) for protection is crucial. It sets a precedent for sovereign control over citizen data collected through digital governance tools, demonstrating a firm commitment to privacy and trust essential for scaling AI solutions in the public sector.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Given that the Panchayat NIRNAY portal does not yet track performance, what specific safeguards and audit mechanisms will the Ministry of Panchayati Raj implement to ensure data integrity and prevent manipulation of the voice-to-text summaries on the e-GramSwaraj server?
Follow the full news here: SABHASAAR INITIATIVE