Lok Sabha Question No. 2168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Integration of AI Assistant and Centres of Excellance
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Janardan Mishra, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2168

ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## INTEGRATION OF AI ASSISTANT AND CENTRES OF EXCELLANCE

† 2168.SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to ensure the successful implementation and integration of the AI Assistant and Centres of Excellence for enhancing skill  development across the country including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Tripura and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps being taken to assess the effectiveness of the AI Assistant in improving user engagement and learning outcomes on the Skill India Digital Portal;
- (c) the benefits that have been observed or are anticipated from these AI-driven initiatives across the country including Uttar Pradesh and Jalgaon's skill development landscape;
- (d) whether these efforts align with the broader goals of Skill India in transforming the skill ecosystem in Maharashtra and specifically, the Jalgaon Lok Sabha region and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the specific strategies implemented by the Government to ensure effective integration of skill-based curriculum in undergraduate programme through a partnership with the UGC; and
- (f) the  steps  taken  to  make  emerging/futuristic  technology  courses  such  as  AI  and  data analytics accessible to students across various sectors and institutions?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  Under  the  Government  of  India's  Skill  India  Mission  (SIM)  ,  the  Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres/institutes etc. under various schemes, viz. Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Sikhshan  Sansthan  (JSS),  National Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsman  Training  Scheme  (CTS)  through Industrial  Training  Institutes (ITIs), to  all the sections  of the  society  across  the country.  The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready, equipped with industry relevant skills.

Under  PMKVY  scheme,  9  job  roles  related  to  AI  have  been  included  as  part  of  the scheme. In  the  state  of  Maharashtra,  Chhattisgarh  and  Tripura  more  than  900, 200  and  50 candidates respectively have undergone training on AI related job roles. Ministry of Electronics and Information  Technology (MeitY) along with the state Governments  and  National

Association  of  Software  and  Service  Companies  (NASSCOM)  have  set  up  Centre  of Excellence in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana for supporting IoT &  AI  ecosystem.  Also,  as  part  of  the  Future  Skills  Prime  initiative  of  MeitY,  GoI  and NASSCOM, various skilling courses are being offered on emerging technologies in the state of Maharashtra,  Chhattisgarh  and  Tripura;  and  more  than  16000, 600  and  550  candidates respectively have completed courses.

(b) to (d): MSDE has launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a mobile-first digital platform, in September,  2023  to synergize India's skill  development, education,  employment,  and entrepreneurship landscape.  Its primary objective is  to  provide  a  comprehensive  and accessible platform for skill enhancement,  offering industry-relevant skill courses, job opportunities,  and  entrepreneurship  support.  SIDH  is  at  the  intersection  of  two  of  the  most important  components  of  the  Government-  Skill  India  &  Digital  India.  Built  on  Mobile-First approach, SIDH caters diverse needs of a citizen for skill development such as discovery of courses, schemes,  apprenticeships, and job opportunities based on preferences and aspirations,  Learning  Management  System  for  digital  skilling,  Portable  Verified  Credentials, etc. SIDH platform is designed to cater to the users of all locations including Maharashtra. The recommendation  feature  on  Skill  courses,  apprenticeship  and  job  opportunities  is  already developed at Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform. The benefits and transformative impact of AI driven initiatives are anticipated to accrue to candidates across the country including Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and include the following:

-  Personalized learning for users
-  Improved user engagement
-  Provide targeted recommendations for courses, apprenticeships and job opportunities.

(e) In tune with NEP-2020, the UGC has developed Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate  Programmes'.  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI),  3-D  machining,  big  data  analysis, machine learning, drone technologies, and Deep learning with important applications to health, environment, and  sustainable  living  are  part  of  digital  and  technological  solutions  under  the value-added courses of undergraduate programmes. UGC has also developed Massive Open Online  Course  (MOOCs)  named 'Cyber Security'  which  is  available  on  SWAYAM  Platform. Further UGC,  on  the  occasion  of Cyber  Jaagrookta  Diwas,  launched  a  syllabus on Cybersecurity Course for Undergraduate and Post Graduate.

UGC has facilitated Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to offer skillbased programmes under National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). The main objective of  the  skill  programmes  under  NSQF is  to  integrate relevant  skills into the higher education system in order to make higher education relevant to the learner and the community. The HEIs can  offer  skill  programmes  at  the  Certificate,  Diploma,  B.Voc  (UG)  and  M.Voc  (PG)  levels. UGC NSQF Guidelines provide for multiple entry and exit options which enable the working population  to  join  the  formal  education  system  at  any  point  of  time.  The  skill  programmes promote  active  linkages  between  the  academia  and  the  industry  as  the  relevant  industry partners help the institutions in framing the course curriculum, evaluating the skill component of the syllabus and offering internships to students. UGC's skill development programme has attempted to benefit all sections of the society across the country.

(f) As on June, 2024, SIDH has 752 online courses, leading to 7.37 lakh minutes of digital content  readily  available  and  accessible  for  learners.  Approximately  7.63  Lakh  candidates have  been  enrolled  for  online  courses  on  SIDH  platform.  The  platform  offers  courses  and apprenticeships opportunities to the learners also. Further, Bharat skills portal supports digital skill  development,  provides  access  to  a  range  of  educational  materials,  including  e-books, question  banks,  and  eLearning  videos,  available  in  12  regional  languages.  Presently,  the portal hosts approximately 553 e-books, 337 question banks, 190 study material videos, and 6201  e-learning  videos,  available  in  12  regional  languages,  ensuring  broad  and  inclusive access to skill training.