From Bihar to the UK Cabinet: Meet Kanishka Narayan, England’s AI Minister

Patna/Muzaffarpur: Kanishka Narayan, originally from Bihar, has made a remarkable journey from the heart of India to the corridors of power in the United Kingdom. Born in Muzaffarpur, Kanishka moved to the UK with his parents at the age of 12 in search of better opportunities. Two decades later, he returned to Bihar—not as a visitor, but as the UK’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence.

Upon landing in Delhi, memories of his hometown flooded back. He took time out of his busy schedule to visit Muzaffarpur, meeting his extended family, including uncles, aunts, and cousins. Later, in Patna, he was warmly welcomed by JD(U) Member of Parliament and party executive president Sanjay Jha.

Early Life and Education

Kanishka Narayan was born in November 1989, hailing from his ancestral village in Goraul, Vaishali district. He began his schooling at Prabhat Tara School in Muzaffarpur. His grandfather, Krishna Kumar, had served as the Chairman of the Muzaffarpur District Board, while his uncle, Jayant Kumar, was Principal of SKJ Law College.

After moving to Delhi with his family, Kanishka eventually settled in Wales, UK. He continued his education at Cardiff schools, earned a scholarship to Eton College, and later pursued Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford University. He also completed an MBA at Stanford University, USA.

Political Career and Public Service

Kanishka’s political inclination led him to join the Labour Party. Before entering politics, he served in the British Civil Service, advising the Cabinet Office. He contributed extensively in areas such as environmental policy, food security, and rural development.

In 2024, Kanishka made history as the first UK Member of Parliament of Indian origin elected from Wales. A year later, in 2025, he was appointed Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Online Security in the UK government. His portfolio includes key contributions to AI policy, online security, and semiconductor technology.

Returning to Bihar

During his visit to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit, Kanishka expressed nostalgia for his early years in Muzaffarpur. “Returning to Bihar after over 20 years is truly heartwarming,” he said. “I see tremendous progress here. We are advancing towards a technological future, much like we are doing in the UK in AI.”

At Muzaffarpur, he reminisced about the local lychees and mangoes of his childhood. He also engaged with students at SKJ Law College, sharing insights on technology and innovation.

Bihar’s Technological Aspirations

Welcoming him in Patna, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha highlighted Bihar’s evolving landscape. “Kanishka Narayan may be a UK citizen and minister, but his roots are in Muzaffarpur. Bihar is catching up with global technology trends. With the vision of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state is ready to compete in agriculture, health, and services sectors using AI and digital innovation.”

Kanishka’s visit symbolizes not just a personal journey, but also the growing connections between Bihar and global technology leadership.