Tag: Kabir Shirgaonkar

TechPulse

DITE&C Sensitizes Officials on Cyber Hygiene and Responsible AI Use on Safer Internet Day

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Altinho, February 10, 2026: Marking Safer Internet Day, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) organised an awareness session at the IT Hub, Altinho, Panaji, to sensitise government officials about growing cyber threats, online vulnerabilities, and safe digital practices.


The session was held under the theme “Smart Tech, Safe Choices – Exploring the Safe and Responsible Use of AI” and aimed to promote cyber hygiene and responsible engagement with emerging technologies.

Addressing the gathering, Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary of IT, emphasised that internet safety is a shared responsibility. He noted that awareness initiatives are essential to empower government officials, citizens, and youth to recognise digital risks and contribute to building a secure online ecosystem.

Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C, highlighted the importance of responsible online behaviour in an era of increasing screen time and rapid AI adoption. He stated that as Goa progresses towards digital empowerment, ensuring protection against cyber threats and consistently practising safe online habits remains crucial.

Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C, welcomed the participants and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen digital security in their respective roles.

The session was conducted by Sharda Katare, Head of the State e-Governance Mission Team (SeMT), Goa, as part of the nationwide Safer Internet Day campaign led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The workshop featured video-based learning modules, discussions on key cyber threats, mitigation strategies, and responsible AI usage. Participants also shared personal experiences related to online fraud, making the session interactive and practical.

Fiona D’costa, Assistant Director, DITE&C, proposed the vote of thanks.

Through such initiatives, DITE&C reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Goa’s digital ecosystem by promoting safe internet practices and responsible AI adoption among officials and citizens alike.

TechPulse

Goa AI Mission 2027 Gains Strategic Support from Sarvam AI

Tanisha Cardozo

The Government of Goa’s ambition to lead in ethical, responsible, and innovation-led AI adoption has received a major boost as Sarvam AI, India’s first sovereign AI startup, extended its support for the Goa AI Mission 2027. The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) hosted a virtual session with Sarvam AI, marking a significant step toward building an AI ecosystem rooted in cultural relevance, local language access, and inclusive design.

Sarvam AI, recently selected under the IndiaAI Mission, is building a full-stack generative AI platform tailored for India. During the session, Sarvam AI showcased key products including Sarvam Samvaad (a conversational AI), Sarvam Arya (an enterprise reasoning engine), and Vistaar (a serverless deployment platform)—all built to support Indian languages and contexts.

The discussion was led by DITE&C Director Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar and Joint Director Dr. Milind Sakhardande, along with SeMT leads Ms. Sharda Katare and Shri Amit Bandekar. Sarvam AI was represented by its Founder Mr. Shubham Arora, along with Guru Prabhaker, Director – Sales, and Prerna Bhandari, Public Sector Lead. The focus was on three pillars: policy collaboration, co-development of citizen-centric AI services, and the establishment of an AI Centre of Excellence in Goa.

A key outcome of the session was the shared interest in building a Konkani Large Language Model (LLM). This language model would contribute significantly to the digital preservation of Goa’s linguistic and cultural heritage while enabling AI-powered services for local communities in their native tongue.

Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, stated, “As the government is working towards creating Centres of Excellence in AI, the goal is to make Goa a hub for applied research, experimentation and industry collaboration. Through the AI Mission 2027, we are laying the groundwork in policy, infrastructure, research, and skills to lead in ethical and responsible AI adoption.”

Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C, added, “Collaborating with industry leaders like Sarvam AI strengthens Goa’s vision of building an AI ecosystem that is not only innovative and sovereign but also deeply rooted in our local languages and cultural context. A key part of this mission is the development of a Konkani Large Language Model, which will help digitally preserve and promote Goa’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. Their approach ensures that technology benefits every community across the state.”

Goa AI Mission 2027 is already mapping out skill development programs, research infrastructure, and AI governance frameworks. Partnerships like this signal a move from planning to implementation—ensuring that the benefits of AI are not just futuristic, but real, contextual, and accessible to every Goan.

TechPulse

Goa’s Startup Accelerator Program Kicks Off to Create Jobs and Fuel Innovation

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Panaji, July 21, 2025: In a major step to strengthen Goa’s innovation ecosystem, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications Shri Rohan A. Khaunte officially launched the Goa Startup Accelerator Program—a dynamic, 5-month initiative aimed at propelling Goan startups into their next growth phase.

Spearheaded by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell under DITE&C, the program will support a curated cohort of 30 high-potential startups—including 25 officially registered in Goa and 5 based in the state but not yet formally registered. Applications for the program open July 22, 2025, through this form.

The accelerator is built around a structured ecosystem of:

  • Masterclasses by domain experts
  • One-on-one mentorship clinics
  • Dedicated growth tracks across product, business, and fundraising
  • A finale Demo Day to pitch to investors, corporates, and policymakers

“Goa’s long-term vision is to build a connected, visible and outcome-driven startup ecosystem,” said Shri Rohan A. Khaunte. “This accelerator unifies our innovation network and positions Goa as a national hub for scalable entrepreneurship.”

Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C, highlighted the platform’s robust engagement features: a real-time dashboard for tracking progress, mentor engagement, and measuring outcomes.

“We’re going beyond one-time incentives—this is about sustained support and measurable impact.”

The program also reflects a strategic shift under the Goa Startup and IT Policy, which aims to foster youth-led innovation and job creation. With Demo Day serving as a spotlight event, participating startups will have a chance to showcase their progress and attract key stakeholders.

Whether you’re a startup founder, mentor, or investor—this marks a defining chapter in Goa’s startup journey.

Applications Open: July 22, 2025
🔗 Apply Now