New Delhi/Bengaluru, 19 March, 2026: The Centre of Data for Public Good, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore is pleased to announce that two initiatives it has developed and supported – Telangana Data Exchange (TGDeX) and the Integrated Geospatial Data-sharing Interface (GDI) – have been recognized at the prestigious The Economic Times GovTech Awards 2026. Developed through collaborative efforts with government partners, the Government of Telangana and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India respectively, these initiatives reflect the growing impact of data exchanges and geospatial platforms in advancing data-driven governance and digital public infrastructure in India. The next generation of AI-driven applications and services will rely on a trusted and secure data infrastructure.

TGDeX has received the Gold Award in the category ‘Best State-Level E-Governance Transformation’. The award recognizes pioneering initiatives that leverage technology to transform governance, improve efficiency, and enable better public service delivery at the state level.

TGDeX is designed to enable trusted and interoperable data exchange and responsible AI across government departments, institutions, startups, and research organizations. By facilitating secure and standardized data sharing, the platform enables collaborative innovation, supports evidence-based decision-making, and strengthens the foundations of data-driven governance.

In addition, GDI has received the Jury Choice Award under the category ‘Geospatial Technology for Governance’. The category recognizes impactful use of geospatial technologies—such as GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analytics—to support planning, governance, and public service delivery.

GDI enables seamless access to geospatial datasets through interoperable interfaces, allowing governments, developers, and researchers to integrate spatial intelligence into applications that support planning, infrastructure development, and data-driven policymaking. This will act as the infrastructure layer facilitating the next generation of AI driven geospatial applications.

These recognitions underscore the growing importance of data exchanges and geospatial platforms as foundational digital infrastructure for modern governance. By enabling trusted access to data and fostering interoperability across systems, such platforms help unlock the potential of data to improve public services, support innovation, and drive more effective policymaking.

Dr. Inder Gopal, Chairman, CDPG and Research Professor, IISc, welcomed the recognition and emphasized the importance of building trusted data ecosystems. He said, “Data exchanges and interoperable platforms are emerging as foundational infrastructure for the AI-driven future. The ability to securely share and access data across institutions will be increasingly critical for innovation and governance. Recognitions like these reinforce the importance of building trusted data ecosystems that enable responsible data sharing at scale.”

The ET GovTech Awards celebrate excellence in digital governance and recognize government initiatives, platforms, and technologies that are transforming public services across India. The awards bring together policymakers, technologists, and innovators who are shaping the future of digital public infrastructure and data-driven governance.

CDPG congratulates the teams and partners whose dedication and collaboration have contributed to these achievements.