Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Digital India BHASHINI Division and Survey of India for Toponymic Data Digitisation

**Executive Summary** This document details a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 20, 2026, between the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Survey of India (SoI). The MoU aims to support the digitization, transcription, and standardization of geographical place names (toponyms) using AI-based speech and language technologies in alignment with the National Geospatial Policy, 2022. The collaboration seeks to create accurate, multilingual, and standardized toponymic datasets. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Purpose and Scope:** * The MoU focuses on digitizing, transcribing, and standardizing geographical place names (toponyms). * It will support the creation of accurate, multilingual and standardized toponymic datasets. * Aims to align with the National Geospatial Policy, 2022. * **Roles and Responsibilities:** * SoI is the national nodal agency for standardizing and maintaining geographical names and undertakes large-scale toponymic field surveys to collect place names in local vernacular languages for integration into national mapping systems. * BHASHINI will use its speech-to-text and language processing capabilities to convert audio recordings of place names into structured digital text. * BHASHINI will contribute its speech and language AI portfolio to support data creation, annotation and validation pipelines, enabling large-scale conversion of human speech into high-quality geospatial language datasets. * **Expected Outcomes:** * Development of the National Geographical Name Information System (NGNIS) by enabling efficient processing of field-collected audio data into local language scripts. * Enhanced speed, accuracy, and scale of toponym data processing through automatic speech recognition, language normalization, and validation workflows. * Strengthened audio documentation of place names, preserving correct pronunciation and local linguistic variations. * Improved reliability of place-name datasets used across Open Series Maps, governance platforms and public information systems. * Comprehensive and validated Toponymy Database covering more than 16 lakh locations * **Alignment with National Vision:** * The MoU reinforces the role of language technologies in strengthening India's geospatial ecosystem. * Ensures place names across regions and dialects are accurately captured, preserved, and standardized. * Aligns with the Government of India's vision of building indigenous, AI-enabled digital infrastructure rooted in Indian linguistic realities. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholder: Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD)** * **Impact:** DIBD will contribute its speech and language AI portfolio to support data creation, annotation and validation pipelines. This collaboration reinforces BHASHINI's approach of embedding language AI across national digital public infrastructure systems. * **Action Required:** DIBD needs to deploy its AI tools and expertise to support data creation, annotation, and validation for the toponymic data digitization project. **Stakeholder: Survey of India (SoI)** * **Impact:** SoI, as the national nodal agency for standardization and maintenance of geographical names, will be able to leverage BHASHINI's technology to expedite the digitization process. * **Action Required:** SoI needs to integrate BHASHINI’s capabilities to convert audio recordings into structured digital text, supporting the creation of a comprehensive Toponymy Database. **Stakeholder: General Public/Citizens** * **Impact:** The standardization of toponyms will improve the reliability of place-name datasets used across governance platforms and public information systems. * **Action Required:** No direct action required from the public; benefit from improved data reliability and accessibility. **Stakeholder: Governance and Disaster Management Entities** * **Impact:** Accurate and standardized toponymic data will aid in disaster management, infrastructure planning, and citizen services. * **Action Required:** Utilize the improved toponymic datasets for better planning and response in disaster management and governance.

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