Kerala renames IT department to include AI and future technologies

Kerala has renamed its Electronics and Information Technology department as the Department of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future Technologies, the state government said. The change follows an announcement in the Governor’s 2026 policy address to reposition the department in line with the state’s technology vision. The government said the new title reflected an expanded mandate beyond conventional information technology and electronics.

According to a government release, the department has also been involved in promoting start-ups, deep-tech ventures and technology-led innovation. The renaming formally recognises that broader role and is intended to help the state respond to developments in the global technology sector. The government said the move formed part of a strategy to use Kerala’s knowledge capital and make knowledge industries a mainstay of the state economy.

It did not provide financial targets or specify a timetable for the expected economic impact of the change. A series of institutional reforms is also under way, according to the communication. These include the Kerala State Digital Technology Mission, The Future Corporation and Semicon Keralam.

The government said the initiatives were intended to strengthen digital governance, future-technology capabilities, the semiconductor ecosystem and the state’s knowledge-industry base. The supplied material does not provide further details about the structure, staffing or responsibilities of the renamed department, or explain how the new institutions will operate.