IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh with Albert Yefimov, Senior Vice-President of Sberbank. X/@naralokesh
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh held discussions with Albert Yefimov, Senior Vice-President of Sberbank, one of Russia’s leading financial and technology institutions, in Moscow on Wednesday (June 3, 2026).
In a post on X, Mr. Lokesh said he had asked Sberbank to extend its GigaChat large language model (LLM) to the banking, public administration and retail sectors in India. He also sought the bank’s technical help to strengthen the security of the UPI network through advanced voice recognition and biometric anti-fraud systems, and asked it to offer structured credit to pharmaceutical and agricultural exporters in Andhra Pradesh.
According to an official release, the meeting was an opportunity to understand Russia’s progress in sovereign artificial intelligence, digital platforms, advanced computing and technology-led innovations. The discussions covered emerging areas including generative AI, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, fintech, quantum computing, workforce skilling and technology applications in public services.
Sberbank representatives presented an overview of the bank’s technology ecosystem, including its GigaChat large language model, AI research initiatives and digital solutions deployed across banking and public-facing services, according to the release.
Mr. Lokesh spoke of the ambition of Andhra Pradesh to become a leading AI and technology hub, and said he wanted to explore areas where global best practices and technology could support the State’s digital transformation.
The discussions also touched on the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, including early disease detection, diagnostics, medical research, hospital operations and citizen-facing health services. Both sides exchanged views on how AI-driven solutions could improve healthcare access and outcomes.
Mr. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh was interested in emerging technologies and discussed future engagement between research institutions, technology companies and innovation ecosystems in quantum technologies. The meeting also covered ways to strengthen economic ties between India and Russia, including building business links, supporting exporters and using technology to improve cross-border trade.
Mr. Yefimov spoke about Sberbank’s operations in India and its engagement with Indian businesses and institutions. Both sides agreed to remain in touch and explore areas of mutual interest as opportunities arise.
Published – June 03, 2026 06:29 pm IST
