Lok Sabha Question No. 573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Saikia Dilip, Arun Sao, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 573

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 06.12.2023

## KNOWLEDGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

## 573. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAMSHRANGARE:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIKNIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS ANDINFORMATION TECHNOLOGYbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  future  workforce  is  equipped  with  the knowledge in the area of Artificial Intelligence that is imperative for the growth of the country;
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilized  under  various  schemes  for promoting Artificial Intelligence during the last three years, year and State/UT-wise; and
- (c) the steps taken by Government to impart the knowledge of Artificial Intelligence to the youth of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) and (c):Artificial Intelligence is the greatest invention in recent times and the Government expects  artificial  intelligence  to  be  a  kinetic  enabler  of  India's  fastgrowing  digital  and innovation economy. The Government wants that AI is available with safety and trust for all our  digital  nagriks  and  to  avoid  the  negative  use  of  AI.  The  Government's  mission  is  to harness  the  potential  of  AI  for  real  life  use  cases  in  governance,  healthcare,  agriculture, language  translation,  etc.  to  make  AI  is  beneficial  to  citizens  and  communities.  A  report created  by  a  team  of  experts  has  been  prepared  for  IndiaAI.  The  copy  of  the  report  is available at MeitY website.

The various initiatives taken by the Government to expand IndiaAI ecosystem and connect the AI opportunities to the youth of the country are as under:

- Skilling  &global  talent  plays  an  important  role  in  our  governments  Artificial Intelligence goals &MeitY has initiated 'FutureSkills PRIME' a programme for Reskilling/Up-skilling of IT Manpower for Employability in 10 new/emerging technologies.  These  include  AI,  Blockchain,  Robotics,  Big  Data  &  Analytics,  IoT, Virtual Reality, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, 3D Printing and Web 3.0.So far, a total of 1,77,170 candidates got enrolled in various AI-related courses, out of which 82,912 candidates have completed their course. Also, selected Centres of CDAC and NIELIT  participating  in  the  programme  have  so  far  trained  1,236  Government Officials and 292 Trainers in AI technology.
- Government has initiated 'Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme' with the objective to enhance the  number  of  PhDs  in  Electronics  System  Design  &  Manufacturing  (ESDM)  and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES) sectors including AI and Emerging Technologies.
- Government  has  launched  Responsible  AI  for  Youth  2022,  on  July  30,  2022.  The Programme was designed to reach out to students from Government schools on pan India  basis  and  provide  them  with  an  opportunity  to  become  part  of  the  skilled workforce in an inclusive manner. The programme impacted 52,628 students across 35 States and UTs, empowering youth with necessary AI skillsets, who had limited or no access to the latest technologies and resources.
- National  e-Governance  Division  (NeGD),  MeitY  in  collaboration  with  its  partners, has launched 'YUVAi: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI'- A National Programme for School Students with the objective of enabling school students from classes 8 th to 12 th with  AI  tech  and  social  skills  in  an  inclusive  manner.  The  programme  will provide a platform for youth to learn and apply AI skills in 8 thematic areas- Krishi, Aarogya,  Shiksha,  Paryavaran,  Parivahan,  Grameen  Vikas,  Smart  Cities  and  Vidhi aur Nyaay.

(b): The initiatives taken by the Government for expanding IndiaAI ecosystem are for the entire  country.  Further,  the  above-mentioned  initiatives  are  implemented  by  the  Central Ministries/Departments through their implementing agencies, and the funds are not allocated to  any  States/UTs.  The  Responsible  AI  for  Youth  programme  is  being  implemented  in association with Industry partner and there is no funding support from the Government. The details of funds allocated and released under these initiatives is annexed as Annexure 1.

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## Details of funds allocated and released:

| Name of Programme /Scheme         | Funds Allocated          | Funds released in FY 2019-20   | Funds released in FY 2020-21   | Funds released in FY 2021-22   | Funds released in FY 2022-23   | Funds released in FY 2023-24   | Total Utilized   |
|-----------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------|
| FutureSkills PRIME Programme      | Rs. 436.87 Cr            | Rs. 43.36 Cr.                  | Rs. 80.0 Cr.                   | Rs. 26.59 Cr.                  | Rs. 26.59 Cr.                  | 0                              | Rs. 131.29 Cr.   |
| Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme           | Phase-I:Rs. 466 Cr       | 0                              | 0                              | 0                              | Rs. 3.16 Cr.                   | Rs. 6.84 Cr.                   | Rs. 10.0 Cr.     |
| Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme           | Phase-II: Rs. 481.93 Cr. | 0                              | 0                              | 0                              | Rs. 1.06 Cr.                   | Rs. 3.16 Cr.                   | Rs. 4.22 Cr.     |
| AI4ICPS Foundation, IIT Kharagpur | Rs. 170 Cr.              | Rs. 5.45 Cr.                   | Rs. 15.0 Cr.                   | 0                              | 0                              | 0                              | Rs. 1.13 Cr.     |

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## Annexure 1