Kerala became the first Indian state to establish a dedicated Artificial Intelligence portfolio at cabinet level, following the formation of the new UDF government under Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The new AI department was assigned by state Gazette order dated 20 May 2026 to senior IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty, alongside Industries and Commerce, Information Technology, start-ups, and related portfolios. The ministry is mandated to coordinate AI policy across departments, encourage AI investment and research infrastructure, and prepare the state’s workforce for AI-driven industries. This is the first named government body in India with an explicit cabinet-level AI governance mandate, representing a significant upgrade from advisory-only bodies.