India's finance minister led a meeting in Karnataka to boost business and governance using AI, launching STEM labs in schools.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level brainstorming session in Hampi, Karnataka, on December 20, 2025, bringing together top officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and tax bodies to discuss AI and digital tools for improving ease of doing business, transparency, and governance. The event focused on regulatory reforms, inter-departmental coordination, and sustainable financing to advance India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Sitharaman emphasized balancing the region’s historical legacy with current challenges like drought and human-animal conflict, and launched a CSR initiative to establish five AI and STEM labs in government schools in Karnataka.