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Saree-clad Robot 'Nila' Welcomes Voters at Puducherry Polling Booth

A saree-clad humanoid robot named Nila was deployed to welcome and assist voters at a polling station in Puducherry during the Assembly elections. Developed by Robo Mirror from Coimbatore, the event-based robot can speak in English and Tamil and is designed for public engagement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens, especially youth and women, to participate in record numbers to shape Puducherry's future. Voting will determine the 30-member Legislative Assembly, with results expected on May 4.

Key Points: Robot 'Nila' Greets Voters in Puducherry Assembly Elections

  • Humanoid robot greeted voters
  • Deployed at VOC Government School booth
  • Speaks in English and Tamil
  • Part of tech integration in elections
  • PM Modi urged high voter turnout
2 min read

Puducherry Assembly elections 2026: Saree-clad robot 'Nila' welcomes voters at polling booth

A humanoid robot named Nila, dressed in a saree, assisted and welcomed voters at a Puducherry polling station during the 2026 Assembly elections.

"This robot has a name, Nila. This is an event-based robot - events like weddings, official work and elections. - Kaushik from Robo Mirror"

Puducherry, April 9

A humanoid robot named "Nila", dressed in a saree, greeted voters arriving at the VOC Government School polling station in Puducherry on Thursday, adding a technological touch to the ongoing Assembly elections in the Union Territory.

Developed as an event-based interactive machine, the robot was deployed to welcome and assist voters as they came to exercise their franchise. Speaking about the innovation, Kaushik from Robo Mirror said the robot is designed for multiple public engagement settings.

"This robot has a name, Nila. This is an event-based robot - events like weddings, official work and elections. We are coming from Coimbatore. Nila robot has multiple features. It also has a voice feature, and it can talk on its own. We can feed in the command, and the voice will be audible to the person nearby. She is welcoming the voters here," Kaushik told ANI.

The robot could be heard speaking both in English and Tamil and drew attention from voters.

Meanwhile, polling began across Puducherry, Keralam and Assam at 7 am, marking a crucial phase in the Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister appealed for higher voter turnout, especially among youth and women. "As the Puducherry Assembly elections commence, I urge every voter to come out and participate in record numbers. I especially appeal to our youth and to women voters to strengthen the process of democracy. Every vote matters in shaping the future of Puducherry," he said.

Puducherry has a total of 10,14,070 eligible voters, including 5,39,125 women, 4,74,788 men, and 157 third gender voters. Among them, 24,156 are first-time voters aged 18-19, while 6,034 are aged above 85.

Voting will determine the composition of the 30-member Legislative Assembly, with results scheduled to be announced on May 4.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While this is a cool tech demo, I hope the focus remains on the actual issues and voting process. Elections are serious business. The robot is fun, but let's not get distracted from the main goal - electing good leaders who will work for Puducherry's development.
K
Karthik V
The fact that it speaks both English and Tamil is excellent for inclusivity. It shows respect for the local language while also being accessible to others. More such initiatives are needed across India to modernize our systems while keeping our cultural identity intact.
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows tech trends globally, this is a fascinating application of robotics in civic engagement. India is really embracing AI and robotics in unique ways. The saree detail is a charming nod to tradition amidst innovation.
A
Aditi M
My parents voted there today and they couldn't stop talking about this robot! They said it made the whole experience less intimidating for elderly voters. Sometimes small things like a friendly welcome can encourage more people to come out and vote. Good initiative!
M
Michael C
I appreciate the innovation, but I have a respectful criticism. The resources spent on this robot could perhaps have been better used to improve polling station infrastructure or voter education. The novelty is nice, but practical improvements matter more for democracy.
N
Nisha Z

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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