Lok Sabha Question No. 5170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5170

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 24.07.2019

## ARTIFICIAL  INTELLIGENCE

## 5170 SHRI  M.K.  RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Artificial Intelligence(AI) is gaining traction across the globe including India  in  various  spectrum  including  industry,  education,  health  and  others,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether  this  has  affected  the  human  efficiency  and  increased  artificial  work  efficiency  and  establishes  the underlying  fear  that  AI  would  take  over  most  of  the  jobs,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the Government thereto;
- (c) whether a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report has estimated that nearly 50 per cent of the full-time workforce of companies would shrink over the next few years and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) whether it has also been estimated that there would be a job loss of seven million by 2032 and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a):      Yes,  Sir.  Government  is  aware  that  Artificial  Intelligence  is  emerging  technology  having  critical  impact  on various sectors. The technologies relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as machine learning, big data analytics, image/speech recognition etc. are evolving at a fast pace and are finding increasing applications. In order to take stock of the implications of Artificial Intelligence on Information Technology and to coordinate work in the domain of Artificial Intelligence, a brainstorming session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Creating Ecosystem and Policy Framework was held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 18 th January 2017 with  the  participation  of  experts  from  Academia,  Industry  and  Government.  As  an  outcome  of  the  brainstorming session  four  committees  of  experts  from  Academia,  Industry  and  Government  were  constituted  to  look  into  the following areas:

- I. Platforms and Data for AI
- II. Leveraging AI for identifying National Missions in Key sectors
- III. Skilling and re-skilling
- IV. Cyber Security, safety, legal and ethical issues.

The committees identified five sectors that are envisioned to benefit the most from AI in solving societal needs: a) Healthcare, b) Agriculture, c) Education, d) Smart  Cities and Infrastructure, and e) Smart  Mobility and Transportation. The recommendations of the committees have gone onto formulation of  'National Programme on Artificial Intelligence'.

(b),  (c)  and  (d):  As  per  NASSCOM  (National  Association  of  Software  and  Services  Companies),  the  critical requirement for optimizing the anticipated impact of the 4 th Industrial Revolution / Digital 4.0 is dependent on the availability  of  the  requisite  talent  with  the  relevant  knowledge,  skills  and  applications  with  respect  to  the Digital/Next-Gen  Technologies.    It  is  a  fact    that  in  India,  just  as  in  the    global  scenario,  IT  professionals    need relevant  up-skilling  in  these  'Digital  Technologies'  like  Artificial  Intelligence  &  Big  Data  Analytics,  Internet  of Things, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Social & Mobile, Robotics and Process Automation, Augmented/Virtual Reality, 3D-Printing/Additive Manufacturing), Blockchain  etc.  NASSCOM research has articulated an up-skilling requirement of 30%-50% of its existing work force of 4 Million.

Keeping  the  above  in  view,  an  online  FutureSkills  platform  for  B2B  skilling  was  created  by  NASSCOM (http://future-skills.nasscom.in/) which was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 19.02.2018. MeitY has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NASSCOM to collaborate and strengthen their cooperation in the field of skill development particularly with respect to the re-skilling/ up-skilling imperatives in areas of new and emerging technologies, with Government acting as an enabler/facilitator.

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