Key Points
- Strategic Partnership: Strengthening ties in health, agriculture, and technology-led governance.
- Healthcare Expansion: Scaling the “Sanjeevani” digital health project from Kuppam to the entire state, targeting 72 lakh citizens.
- Governance Innovation: Showcasing RTGS Aware 2.0, blockchain land records, and 921 citizen services available via WhatsApp.
- Agri-Tech Progress: Demonstrating AI-driven drones and the APAIMS Rythu App for real-time farming advisories in Undavalli.
- Global Standing: Bill Gates lauded the state’s digital roadmap, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leader in the global AI revolution.
The political and technological landscape of Andhra Pradesh reached a significant milestone on Monday as Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft and Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, arrived in Amaravati. Following his participation in the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Gates visited the state capital at the personal invitation of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Upon landing at Gannavaram Airport, Gates was received by IT Minister Nara Lokesh and senior cabinet members before heading to the State Secretariat. The meeting was a historic continuation of a relationship that began in the late 1990s, when a similar dialogue led to the establishment of Microsoft’s development center in Hyderabad.
Revolutionizing Governance Through AI and Data
At the State Secretariat, Chief Minister Naidu presented an updated vision for the state’s Real-Time Governance System (RTGS), specifically the new “Aware 2.0” platform. This system utilizes a “Data Lake” to integrate information across all government departments, allowing for instantaneous decision-making and transparent service delivery.
Naidu also demonstrated the state’s pioneering “WhatsApp Governance” model, which now provides 921 different citizen services directly through the messaging app. Bill Gates expressed deep interest in the state’s use of blockchain technology to secure property records, which includes embedding QR codes to prevent tampering and ensure total transparency for landowners.
The “Sanjeevani” Project: A Blueprint for Public Health
A core focus of the discussions was the “Sanjeevani” project, a health record digitization initiative currently piloted in the Kuppam constituency. The Chief Minister confirmed that the program is now being expanded statewide to create comprehensive digital medical histories for every citizen.
The project leverages Artificial Intelligence to transition from a reactive treatment model to a preventive one. Gates inquired about the use of “bio-design” to provide affordable diagnostic facilities, emphasizing that low-cost, AI-enabled medical devices are essential for empowering the underprivileged. The Gates Foundation is expected to provide technical support for the newly established Digital Modelling and Intelligence Decision Centre (DMIDC) to further enhance data-driven health policy.
Agriculture 2.0, Drones and AI in the Fields
The high-profile visit extended beyond the boardroom to the agricultural fields of Undavalli village on the banks of the Krishna River. Accompanied by CM Naidu, Gates witnessed a live demonstration of AI-driven drones used for precision spraying and crop surveillance.
During the field visit, women farmers Mani and Annapurna introduced Gates to the “APAIMS Rythu App,” an AI-powered platform that provides farmers with precise advisories based on soil health, market prices, and pest identification through simple photo uploads. Gates noted that while many developed nations are still struggling to integrate AI into daily farming, Andhra Pradesh has successfully placed these advanced tools in the hands of rural farmers.
Vision for “Swarna Andhra 2047”
Chief Minister Naidu concluded the meeting by unveiling the “Swarna Andhra 2047” roadmap, which aims to transform the state into a global technology hub by the centenary of India’s independence. The vision includes the development of specialized zones, such as:
- Visakhapatnam: The Data and AI City.
- Orvakal: The Drone City.
- Tirupati: The Electronics and Space City.
- Kakinada: The Green Hydrogen Valley.
Bill Gates praised the Chief Minister’s foresight, stating that India is at the forefront of the global digital revolution and that Naidu remains “ahead in thinking among global leaders.” The state government and the Gates Foundation have now agreed to form high-power advisory groups to ensure these AI-led initiatives are scaled effectively across the health and education sectors.
