Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a national frontrunner in the use of information technology to deliver public services that are accessible, transparent and time-bound, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said, underscoring what he described as a historic transformation in the state’s governance framework.
Addressing the General House meeting of the Society for Promotion of IT and e-Governance in Himachal Pradesh (SITEG), the Chief Minister highlighted that government services are now available to citizens across the state—including in its remotest and tribal regions—through digital platforms. This shift, he noted, has not only reduced physical dependence on government offices but has also strengthened accountability and efficiency within the administrative system.
The Chief Minister undertook a comprehensive review of the IT-based applications and software developed by the state’s Information Technology Department, directing officials to continuously refine these platforms to make them more user-friendly, robust and secure. Emphasising citizen convenience as the core objective, he stressed that technology must simplify lives rather than create new layers of complexity.
One of the key initiatives reviewed was the ‘Him Upasthiti’ application, which has been introduced to monitor attendance of employees across various state government departments. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed officials to further enhance the application’s transparency and reliability, ensuring that it serves as an effective tool for administrative discipline while maintaining fairness and accuracy. In a related move aimed at strengthening digital integration across departments, he made it mandatory for all state government employees to register on the ‘Him Access Portal’, setting a one-month deadline for completion.
A significant milestone announced during the meeting was the launch of the Asset Mapping Application. The Chief Minister described this initiative as a transformative step towards evidence-based governance. By providing comprehensive, real-time data on citizens’ properties, the application is expected to play a crucial role in infrastructure planning, policy formulation and efficient resource management. Accurate asset data, he said, would enable the government to design development interventions that are both targeted and sustainable.
Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of the state’s digital push is the integration of an Artificial Intelligence-based document verification and validation system into the Him Seva Portal. Explaining the rationale behind this move, the Chief Minister noted that revenue services currently rely heavily on manual scrutiny, placing an excessive burden on officers and often causing delays for citizens. Minor errors—such as unclear photographs or incorrect document formats—frequently result in application rejections, forcing applicants to make repeated visits to government offices.
The new AI-driven system is designed to address these inefficiencies at the very first stage. At the time of document upload, the system will automatically check clarity, format and completeness, including the presence of essential details such as signatures. It will also cross-verify personal information—such as names, dates of birth and Aadhaar numbers—entered in the application against the uploaded documents, instantly flagging any discrepancies. Applicants will receive immediate feedback, allowing them to rectify errors in real time before final submission.
This innovation is expected to significantly improve the citizen experience by reducing avoidable rejections and delays. At the same time, it will free revenue officers from routine preliminary checks, enabling them to focus on substantive verification and decision-making. As a result, applications reaching officers will be largely ready for approval, leading to faster disposal and more efficient service delivery.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening the Him Parivar Portal, directing that comprehensive mapping be ensured down to the panchayat level. He called for the inclusion of socio-economic data and seamless integration of all state welfare schemes into the portal. Additionally, land-related data will be incorporated to ensure that benefits are delivered transparently and reach only eligible beneficiaries, thereby minimising leakages and duplication.
Looking ahead, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu outlined a clear digital roadmap for the state, stating that the government is steadily integrating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and blockchain into its e-governance ecosystem. AI-based systems, he said, would enhance service quality, improve the accuracy of administrative decisions and accelerate grievance redressal. Blockchain technology, on the other hand, holds the potential to revolutionise data security, transparency and record management by creating tamper-proof digital records.
Reiterating the broader vision, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to building a smart, digital and future-ready Himachal Pradesh—one where governance is more responsive, efficient and firmly centred on the needs of citizens.
He also emphasised the critical role of Lok Mitra Kendras, particularly in rural and remote areas, describing them as the backbone of last-mile service delivery. Directing an increase in their number, he underlined the need for time-bound resolution of issues faced by Lok Mitra Kendra operators to ensure uninterrupted and quality services for the public.
Adding to the state’s growing recognition on the national stage, Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Digital Transformation & Governance and Innovation) Gokul Butail informed the meeting that Himachal Pradesh has received special recognition for its flagship digital governance initiative, the ‘Him Parivar Project’, at Deloitte’s prestigious government conference ‘Aarohan 2025’. He said the project has been acknowledged for its visionary approach in leveraging digital technologies to create a transparent, inclusive and citizen-focused governance model.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Shyam Bhagat Negi, secretaries from various departments and other senior officers, reflecting the administration’s collective commitment to driving Himachal Pradesh’s digital transformation forward.
Together, these initiatives signal not just technological advancement, but a deeper shift in governance philosophy—one that places citizens at the heart of the system while positioning Himachal Pradesh as a national leader in digital public service delivery.
