Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 20: The Kerala Cabinet on Friday approved the State’s ambitious Information Technology (IT) Policy 2026, setting sweeping targets for job creation, export growth and digital transformation as part of its roadmap to position Kerala as a leading innovation hub.
The policy was cleared at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Bold Economic Targets
The government has set a goal of securing at least 10 per cent of India’s IT exports while creating a minimum of five lakh new jobs in IT and allied sectors. It also plans to triple the State’s IT infrastructure space through private participation and decentralised expansion.
Another key target is to increase the number of start-ups in Kerala to 20,000 and capture a 5–10 per cent share of the Indian economy in high-technology sectors.
“The policy aims to secure at least a 10 per cent share of India’s IT exports and create a minimum of five lakh new jobs,” an official release said.
Focus on Advanced Technologies
The policy lays emphasis on building an intellectual property-driven knowledge economy. Kerala will focus on emerging and high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space and aerospace, defence, electronics and genomics.
Centres of Excellence will be established in emerging domains, supported by large-scale skill development programmes in AI, blockchain, data analytics and bioinformatics.
According to the government, the objective is to build “a knowledge-based economy driven by intellectual property and advanced technologies.”
Digital Governance Overhaul
A major thrust has been placed on digital inclusion and governance reforms. The State has pledged to ensure 100 per cent internet access to all households through fibre-optic connectivity.
A unified digital interface will be developed to provide seamless access to citizen-centric government services. More e-governance applications will migrate to cloud-based platforms, and predictive and prescriptive governance services are planned.
The policy also proposes eliminating duplication in public data collection by integrating citizen information into a single regulated system with controlled API access. Stronger data privacy protections and a responsible data usage framework will be introduced.
Officials said the initiative is designed to “rapidly transform Kerala into a future-ready digital economy and a leading innovation hub,” with emphasis on “responsible data usage” and “stronger data privacy protections.”
Infrastructure and Investment Push
To expand IT capacity, the government will implement land pooling for new IT parks, simplify labour laws and establish a Critical Infrastructure Fund to ensure continuity during natural disasters and public health emergencies.
The policy also outlines incentives including capital subsidies, support for data centres, Global Capability Centres, co-working infrastructure, angel networks and micro venture capital translation centres to strengthen the start-up ecosystem.
Education and Inclusivity
Digital education will be revamped with new ICT textbooks for Classes 1 to 10. Around 25 lakh students are expected to receive specialised training in emerging technologies over the next five years.
The government has also pledged to promote inclusivity by encouraging greater participation of women, persons with disabilities and transgender persons in the IT and high-tech workforce.
Special Technology Missions
As part of its long-term strategy, Kerala will launch dedicated missions including the Kerala Electronics and Semiconductor Mission, Kerala AI Mission, Kerala Future Tech Mission and a Digital Transformation Mission to build world-class capabilities in critical sectors.
With wide-ranging structural reforms and investment incentives, the IT Policy 2026 signals Kerala’s intent to significantly expand its footprint in India’s technology landscape while advancing digital governance and inclusive growth.
