Aizawl, September 12, 2025: In a landmark step toward promoting digital inclusion and overcoming language barriers through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mizoram today hosted its first Mizo Language Hackathon under the Bhashini Rajya Workshop: Mizoram Chapter. The event was inaugurated in Aizawl by ICT Minister Dr. Vanlalthlana.
Organised jointly by the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the ICT Department, Government of Mizoram, the hackathon is the first initiative aimed at expanding the use of Mizo language in AI-powered platforms and digital services.
Highlighting the significance, Dr. Vanlalthlana described the Hackathon as a crucial part of the Prime Minister’s Digital India vision. He said AI-based tools like Bhashini are vital in addressing communication challenges caused by linguistic diversity and will ensure that the Mizo language is well integrated into emerging technologies.
The Bhashini app - an AI-enabled language translation tool - supports voice-to-text, text-to-voice, and text-to-text conversion across Indian languages. Officials explained that training AI with Mizo language data will empower citizens to access government services, digital resources, and information in their own language. This will particularly benefit rural communities and citizens unfamiliar with other languages.
ICT Secretary Amit Sharma said Mizoram stands to gain immensely from the initiative, as language barriers have long posed obstacles to digital growth. “Bhashini will bridge communities by making communication seamless in multiple languages,” he added.
DIBD CEO Amitabh Nag emphasized the importance of continuously training AI models with more users and data, ensuring the app becomes increasingly accurate and accessible.
The workshop included live demonstrations of Bhashadaan, Bhashini Samudaye, and the Mitra Programme, as well as roadmap discussions for departments across Mizoram on adopting AI-based tools. A capacity-building session was also held to equip state officials and technical teams with knowledge of AI applications.
Participants included college representatives, government departments, civil society groups, and media organizations, marking a collective step toward positioning Mizoram at the forefront of AI-driven language innovation.
