Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Thursday said that the legislature is going to roll out ‘Vidhan Sathi’, a dedicated AI-based legislative research and assistance tool, during the upcoming budget session. He called it an effort to ensure that the MLAs are supported with clarity, context, and credible information, to ensure that discussions in this House are thoughtful, and purposeful.
Gupta, while addressing the media on Thursday, said the members of a legislature are often required to engage with complex laws and policy issues within limited time, and this tool is expected to enhance their productivity. “Vidhan Sathi, conceived as a dedicated legislative research and assistance tool. It is our effort to ensure that the MLAs are supported with clarity, context, and credible information,’ he added.
He noted that the Delhi Assembly is the first legislative body in the country to introduce a dedicated AI-enabled chatbot for its members, developed in alignment with its own procedures and institutional framework. It marks decisive shift towards data-driven and technology-enabled legislative functioning.
The platform is exclusively designed to support legislators with data-based insights and analysis of Bills, Acts, and policy issues. The members of the legislative assembly can also upload screenshots of Bills or reports to receive instant analysis and contextual understanding, enabling more informed and effective participation in legislative discussions.
The purpose of the tool is not merely to provide access to documents, but to assist the MLAs in analysing complex issues and presenting well-informed, evidence-based arguments in the House, speaker said.
The Vidhan Sathi will be accessible through a dedicated QR code placed on each Member’s desk, along with a direct digital link, eliminating the need for downloads or additional processes. Notably, the access of the facility will be strictly restricted to the members, to ensure a secure and institution-specific legislative support framework.
The platform draws upon the Rules of Procedure, past debates, committee reports, and legislative records, ensuring that the information provided is relevant and institutionally grounded. It is available in both Hindi and English languages, and also offers voice-enabled features for ease of use during proceedings.
Gupta emphasised that the platform does not a substitute to independent judgment or deliberative role of members, but serves as a support mechanism to enhance their ability to present well-reasoned and evidence-based arguments.
In its next phase, the system will be integrated with the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), further strengthening the Assembly’s paperless ecosystem, he added.
Gupta also informed that the Budget Session of the Eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly will commence from 23 March (Monday), with the agenda to be finalised in the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow.
The session will include key legislative business such as discussions on reports of the Committee of Privileges, the Public Accounts Committee, and matters relating to CAG reports, along with opportunities for Members to raise issues and participate in short-duration discussions.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the Hindu New Year and the Chaitra Navratri, the assembly complex has been illuminated in saffron hues, Gupta informed, saying that it reflects a spirit of renewal, devotion, and collective celebration.