Bhopal : In a significant move towards modernizing legislative functioning, all 230 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Madhya Pradesh will soon be provided with Apple iPads under the ambitious e-Vidhan initiative.
The process of completing formalities is in its final stage, with a unanimous consensus reached among all members.
Official sources said that three meetings in this regard have been convened in this regard in past two months. In the meetings, members emphasised the necessity of equipping legislators with secure and efficient devices, considering the evolving demands of legislative and constituency work and the critical need for robust data protection.
The consensus to provide Apple iPads — known for their high security standards and performance — reflects a broader national trend where several state assemblies have opted for Apple devices for their legislators.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will play a pivotal role in finalising the distribution process.
Once deployed, the e-Vidhan system will enable MLAs to access legislative documents, reference materials, and constituency data digitally, thereby enhancing legislative functioning and reducing dependency on paper-based processes.
Principal Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, AP Singh, told The Pioneer that the process of laying lines has begun within the State Assembly premises.
The Public Works Department (PWD) of Madhya Pradesh is overseeing the execution of this work, while the procurement of iPads has been entrusted to the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
He informed that the cost of procuring the iPads will be shared between the Central and State Governments, with the Centre bearing 60 percent and the Madhya Pradesh Government covering the remaining 40 percent. This approach is consistent with the Centre’s push to promote digital governance under the broader framework of Digital India.
Notably, the move towards digitisation had been initiated earlier. On March 1, 2023, while presenting the State Budget for the fiscal year 2023–24, Finance Minister Jagdish Devda had earmarked Rs 5 lakh per legislator for setting up e-office infrastructure.
The provision was made under the Madhya Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005, signaling a long-term vision to reduce physical paperwork and enhance administrative efficiency.
Once the e-Vidhan system is operational, Madhya Pradesh will join the league of 19 other Indian states that have already implemented similar initiatives.
The platform is expected to not only make Assembly proceedings more transparent and efficient but also significantly cut costs — saving crores of rupees annually that are currently spent on printing and distributing legislative documents.
Assembly Principal Secretary AP Singh expressed optimism that the distribution of iPads would be completed soon with NIC’s assistance.
He further highlighted that moving to a fully digital platform will allow
members to access all legislative material with just a click, facilitate real-time referencing during debates and foster inter-state innovation exchange by connecting all Assemblies through a unified digital system.
