Maharashtra govt collaborates with Meta to launch WhatsApp-based citizen services

Maharashtra partners with Meta to provide citizen services via WhatsApp, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in governance.

The Government of Maharashtra on Friday (February 28, 2025) announced partnering with Meta (formerly Facebook) during the Mumbai Tech Week 2025. The aim of this collaboration is to provide all citizen services via WhatsApp on a single number, empowering 125 million citizens to access government services from anywhere, at any time.  

The chatbot, ‘Aaple Sarkar’, will be available in three languages - Marathi, English, and Hindi and will offer service through both text and voice. The chatbot will offer services like addressing grievances, downloading critical documents and certificates, convenience services like booking bus tickets via Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) or Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and providing timely information to farmers and citizens across Maharashtra.  

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The Government of Maharashtra is committed to harnessing the power of open-source Gen AI technology to improve and simplify the access to public services. In partnership with Meta, we are taking a significant step in not only making government services digitally accessible through WhatsApp, but also more efficient, bridging the gap between governance and the people.” 

Maharashtra government will also use Meta’s open-source large language model - Llama - to enhance efficiency and productivity in the government.  

Minister of IT and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, Ashish Shelar said, “Digital transformation is at the core of Maharashtra’s vision for a more connected and empowered state. By integrating Llama to improve efficiency and by leveraging the reach of WhatsApp, we are ensuring that government services are not only more accessible but also more efficient. This collaboration with Meta marks a significant milestone in making governance smarter, faster, and more citizen centric.”  

As part of this collaboration, Meta will undertake a pilot to develop and implement a Gen AI solution aimed at enhancing accessibility of the government documentation and accelerate decision making. This solution will be powered by Llama’s reasoning engine and boost overall productivity for government officials.  

Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta in India said, “The digital services chatbot brings the power of technology to the fingertips of the people of Maharashtra. The ease and simplicity of WhatsApp make it a preferred choice for people to get things done. We are confident that through this chatbot, we will redefine the way people connect with government services, making them more convenient and accessible.”