Reforming state governance: Kerala pushes sweeping administrative overhaul powered by artificial intelligence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government is set to introduce artificial intelligence tools and comprehensively overhaul its administrative rules to fast-track governance and improve public service delivery.

Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha has issued an order directing the integration of domestic and international best practices into the state's administrative framework. Under the initiative, AI will serve as a support mechanism for officials, handling tasks such as drafting file notes, retrieving past government orders, summarising lengthy documents, and translation.

To drive the modernisation process, the government has established a Business Policy and Process Re-engineering Cell within the General Administration Department and allocated ₹3.09 crore. The selection of AI tools will be carried out with the technical assistance of the Kerala Digital University and domain experts. A dedicated digital portal will also be launched to gather governance-related suggestions from the public, lawyers, and civic organizations.

Officials emphasized that the sweeping structural reforms will proceed strictly within the bounds of constitutional protections, reservation policies, and natural justice.

The overhaul covers a wide spectrum of fundamental administrative instruments, including the Rules of Business, Kerala Service Rules, Civil Services Rules, Public Service Act, Secretariat Office Manual, financial and treasury codes, the Right to Information Act, and various special service and education regulations.

At the Secretariat level, the integration of AI is expected to cut down bureaucratic layers in file movement, minimize redundant checks, and simplify procedural workflows. Departmental manuals, office guidelines, decentralization directives, and the protocols governing project preparation alongside administrative, technical, and financial sanctions will also undergo a thorough review.