• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan returned to Bihar after two decades.
  2. Expressed confidence in Bihar's technological advancement and AI policy.
  3. Discussed potential UK-Bihar collaboration in artificial intelligence.

UK Minister for AI and Online Safety Kanishka Narayan returned to Bihar on Saturday after more than two decades, exuding confidence that the state is "chasing the future of technology".

Narayan, who landed in Patna in the morning, called on JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha at his residence. "Born here, I am back after more than 20 years. You can see a huge amount of progress unfolding here. Bihar, just like the UK, is chasing the future of technology," said Narayan, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

He had travelled to India to attend the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi from February 16 to 21. "I am deeply pleased to have come here to Bihar, and will shortly leave for Muzaffarpur, where I grew up," Narayan said.

Kanishka Narayan's Bihar link

Originally hailing from Saundho village in Bihar’s Vaishali district, Kanishka traces his roots to a prominent family with deep ties to Muzaffarpur. His grandparents, Krishna Kumar and Veena Devi, later settled in Muzaffarpur, where Krishna Kumar went on to serve as chairman of the Muzaffarpur District Board and founded SKJ Law College.

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Kanishka’s parents, Santosh Kumar and Chetna Sinha, moved to Delhi after completing their education at SKJ Law College. He began his schooling at APJ School in Saket, Delhi, before relocating to the United Kingdom with his parents at the age of 12.

In Britain, Kanishka pursued higher education at Eton College and later at the University of Oxford, the same prestigious institutions attended by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Bihar's role in semiconductors

Jha indicated that there could be potential collaboration between Bihar and the UK in the field of artificial intelligence. "Being a son of this soil, he will definitely try to garner some support on this front. Bihar has already come up with several policies on semiconductors, data and AI," he said.

Claiming that Bihar has the "best policy" on AI in the country, Jha said the state's large youth population is making significant strides in the sector. He underlined the wide-ranging applications of AI in healthcare, agriculture and the services sector, asserting that under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leadership, Bihar would not lag behind any other state in adopting AI technology.

Earlier, the United Kingdom's Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, called for deeper technological cooperation with India, citing shared ethical values and developmental goals as the foundation of a strong bilateral partnership.

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Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Narayan described the ongoing discussions as highly significant. "The summit has been deeply impactful," the Minister stated, recognising the value of this global gathering in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

Narayan emphasised that the UK-India relationship in the digital domain rests on mutual understanding and aligned strategic priorities. He highlighted the parallel paths both nations are taking in the regulation and responsible deployment of AI.

(With inputs from agency)


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