Government of Maharashtra collaborates with Meta to launch WhatsApp-based Citizen Services and drive digital transformation powered by Llama
Available in three languages, the chatbot will offer citizen services through both text and voice
Mumbai, India - February 28th, 2025: In a significant step towards enhancing the lives of citizens and to improve efficiencies in government, the Government of Maharashtra has partnered with Meta. Announced during the Mumbai Tech Week 2025, this collaboration aims 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 bring various services like addressing grievances, downloading critical documents and certificates, convenience services like booking bus tickets via MSRTC or BEST and providing timely information to farmers and citizens across the state of Maharashtra.
In addition, the Government of Maharashtra will also use Meta’s open-source large language model - Llama - to enhance efficiency and productivity in the government. 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.
Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra 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."
Shri. Ashish Shelar Hon'ble Minister of IT & Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra said, “Digital transformation is at the core of Maharashtra’s vision for a more connected and empowered state. By integrating Llama to improve efficiencies 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.”
Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta in India said, "We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Maharashtra to enhance process efficiencies using Llama and to launch the digital services chatbot, which 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."
