The report captures insights from 115 government leaders, executives, and technology decision‑makers from around the world, offering a focused view of how public sector organisations are embracing artificial intelligence (AI), data, cybersecurity, and digital foundations while grappling with challenges around scale, skills, and governance.

As governments accelerate toward a more digital, data‑driven future, the research highlights a clear shift from tactical projects to enterprise‑wide transformation. While AI and cybersecurity remain high on the agenda, leaders are placing renewed emphasis on strengthening core digital foundations, including cloud platforms, enterprise systems, data management capabilities, workforce skills, and ecosystem partnerships, to build resilience and improve service delivery in an increasingly complex environment.

The findings underscore that ambition continues to outpace execution. Many public sector organisations are still constrained by fragmented data environments, organisational silos, legacy technology debt, and talent shortages, limiting their ability to scale pilots and convert innovation into sustained, measurable impact. In response, leading governments are sharpening their technology strategies, adopting citizen‑centric design principles, and forming trusted, outcome‑focused partnerships to accelerate execution, strengthen delivery confidence, and unlock long‑term public value and trust.

Nilachal Mishra – Partner and Head, Government and Public Services, KPMG in India, said, “India’s public sector stands at a critical juncture as it moves from digital implementation to intelligent, outcome-led transformation. While AI, data, and cloud provide the technological impetus, lasting impact will depend on three foundations: robust digital infrastructure, seamless institutional integration, and trusted cross-sector partnerships. By embedding citizen-centric design, responsible AI, and resilient operating models into the core of government, India can accelerate execution, enhance public trust, and deliver long-term value at scale“.

Key findings from the Global Tech Report 2026 – Government and Public Sector include:

• 89 per cent describe themselves as technology innovators or fast followers, signaling strong transformation intent
• 86 per cent believe managing AI agents will become an important workforce skill within the next five years, reinforcing the urgency of talent and capability transformation
• 64 per cent plan to increase investment in cybersecurity over the coming year, reflecting heightened risk and threat awareness
• 59 per cent expect to increase budgets for data and analytics, many by more than 10 per cent, to improve insight‑driven decision‑making
• 55 per cent say they are getting 40 per cent or more of their financial value from foundational and core tech
• 48 per cent of government respondents say they will be deploying AI use cases into production at scale within the next 12 months
• 43 per cent admit they are hitting roadblocks in scaling digital and AI initiatives across the enterprise
• 40 per cent anticipate spending more than 40 per cent of their technology budgets on maintaining legacy environments, highlighting the drag of technical debt

Taken together, the insights point to a government and public sector at a critical inflection point. Those organisations that invest in strong digital foundations, responsible and scalable AI, cyber resilience, and workforce capability—while maintaining a human‑centric, outcomes‑driven approach—will be best positioned to deliver trusted, resilient, and citizen‑focused services in the Intelligence Age.

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This year’s announcement introduces an array of authors, thinkers, and artists who represent a rich variety of perspectives and disciplines. The confirmed names include Senior Physicist at CERN Geneva Archana Sharma; former Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India Arvind Subramanian; Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo; Nobel Prize-winning economist Tanya Talaga; former Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar; noted art historian and curator Debra Diamond; editor of Private Eye and renowned satirist Ian Hislop; celebrated poet and novelist Jeet Thayil; Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai; award-winning nature poet Alice Oswald; art critic and broadcaster Andrew Graham-Dixon; bestselling novelist Ashwin Sanghi; pathbreaking writer Kunzang Choden Roder; historian and biographer Narayani Basu; acclaimed nutritionist and author Rujuta Diwekar; award-winning writer and chronicler of the Himalaya Stephen Alter; disability rights activist and writer Tarini Mohan; literary advocate and publisher William Sieghart; and Telugu feminist writer Volga.

Namita Gokhale, Co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, shared: “Come January, the greatest literature festival on earth returns to Jaipur! It provides a crucial cross-fertilisation of ideas and literary narratives in our fractured world. The multilingual lineup of writers and speakers is as diverse and eclectic as ever, showcasing the best of recent writing from across the Indian languages and the globe. With themes that are classic, radical, and timeless, the 19th edition of our festival provides windows to many worlds and glimpses into the future.”

William Dalrymple, Co-Director, added: “This year we present one of our most extraordinary line-ups since the festival began, including many of the world’s most celebrated writers, thinkers, poets and satirists. Do not miss Jaipur ’26- it’s going to be completely astonishing.”

Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, said: “The Jaipur Literature Festival is more than an event; it’s a celebration of free expression, diversity, and the power of narrative to build bridges. As we approach our 19th edition, we’re proud to offer a platform where voices from around the world can engage, inspire, and transform audiences through the art of storytelling.”

Priya Agarwal, Director, Vedanta Resources, said: “At Vedanta, our partnership with the Jaipur Literature Festival reflects our belief that when creativity and conversation come together, they can shape a more connected and compassionate world. As the Festival enters its 19th edition, we are proud to support a platform that celebrates diverse voices and the timeless power of storytelling to drive progress.”

Alongside its literary sessions, Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 will present a diverse programme including the much-loved Heritage Evenings, set against the historic backdrop of Jaipur, featuring music, poetry, and performance. The Jaipur Music Stage will showcase leading Indian and international musicians in performance alongside the festival. The industry-focused Jaipur BookMark (JBM) will once again provide a premier platform for publishers, agents, authors, and other stakeholders to network and collaborate. Now in its 19th year, the Jaipur Literature Festival remains committed to being an accessible, inclusive space where writers, thinkers, and audiences come together to celebrate ideas and the universal love for stories.

For further information on the festival, please visit: https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/

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