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The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has inaugurated “AI for India 2.0,” a free online training initiative focusing on artificial intelligence, in commemoration of World Youth Skills Day.
According to a government report, the programme is a collaborative effort between the government’s Skill India project and the education platform GUVI. It has been accredited by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras). It intends to equip the youth of India with cutting-edge skills in the field.
Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship officially launched the AI skill development programme last week. It includes a Python course that caters to learners in nine languages, such as Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and others.
As per GUVI, the primary focus of the project is to target youth, including college students, fresh graduates, and early professionals, providing them with training on AI and machine learning (ML). The aim is to prepare them for a secure and prosperous career in the technology field in the future.
During the launch event, the Minister emphasised the importance of not confining emerging technologies to a specific language. He announced that technology courses will primarily be offered in Indian languages. This initiative aims to break down language barriers in technology education and ensure that the nation’s youth, especially in rural areas, are future-proofed with the necessary skills.
He further pointed out that India is a technology-savvy nation, citing the successful adoption of digital payments as an example. He expressed contentment with GUVI’s initiative to educate individuals at the grassroots level on cutting-edge technologies, thus empowering those at the bottom of the pyramid with valuable skills.
The Minster expressed his vision of enhancing accessibility to AI education, ensuring it reaches every corner of the country. GUVI, an IIT Madras incubated start-up, operates as a tech platform that offers flexible technology learning by providing courses in vernacular languages, making it accessible to a wider audience.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 suggested that educational institutes should introduce and integrate contemporary subjects like AI/ML and robotics into the mainstream study curriculum. Therefore, schools and universities across the country have launched new technology courses and programmes.
Last month, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, announced that technical colleges in the state will be incorporating initiatives that include AI, data science, and mechatronics engineering starting from the upcoming academic session.
He said that the state government recognises the importance of remaining at the forefront of technological advancements. Therefore, from August, a wide range of courses across various institutions will be introduced. The Government Hydro Engineering College Bilaspur will offer the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) programme in Computer Science and Engineering with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. This course has been approved by the All-India Council for Technical Education and the Himachal Pradesh Technical University. Government polytechnic institutions in Rohru and Chamba will now offer specialised courses in computer engineering and mechatronics engineering, respectively.
As OpenGov Asia reported, to meet the industry’s increasing demands, the state will also implement several courses in 17 industrial training institutes across the state. These courses include mechanic electric vehicle, technician mechatronics, fibre-to-home technician, solar technician (electric), Internet of Things technician, and maintenance mechanic (chemical plant), among others.
