Govt today is not just a consumer of technology, but a co-creator: Dr Manjula N, Govt of Karnataka

As India debates how to regulate AI without slowing innovation, Karnataka positions itself as a state where policy is designed to enable deployment, not just experimentation. During an interaction at the India Digital Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, Dr Manjula N, Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, outlines how the state is strengthening itself as an active innovation enabler as technology paradigms rapidly evolve.

Dr Manjula says Karnataka’s policies are consistently designed to be “output-oriented,” with an emphasis on moving ideas from pilots to production rather than relying on short-term incentives. The state is currently working on the third version of its startup policy, reflecting the maturity of an ecosystem that evolves steadily over nearly two decades.

“Our policies are forward-looking and focused on outcomes,” she says. “The emphasis is not just on announcing policies, but on ...