Lok Sabha Question No. 2255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Collaboration with IT Companies to Enhance Digital Literacy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2255

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.03.2025

## COLLABORATION WITH IT COMPANIES TO ENHANCE DIGITAL LITERACY

## 2255.  SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

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

- (a)  the  total  number  of  beneficiaries  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Digital  Saksharta Abhiyan, State-wise particularly Karnataka;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to integrate AI and cybersecurity training into existing skill development programmes;
- (c) whether any new digital skill training centres are being planned and, if so, the details of the new centres which have been approved in Mysuru; and
- (d) the measures introduced to promote collaboration with IT companies to enhance digital literacy and employability?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a):     The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was initiated to reach  digital  literacy  in  6  crore  rural  households  (one  person  per  household)  nationwide including the State of Karnataka. As against a target of 6 crore, around 6.39 crore individuals were trained across the country. PMGDISHA scheme was officially concluded on March 31st, 2024.

In the State of Karnataka, a total of 17,072 training centres were registered under the scheme out of which 765 were from Mysuru wherein a total of 29,64,726 candidates were enrolled and 24,40,957 candidates were trained across the state under the PMGDISHA Scheme.

The State/UT-wise achievement details under the PMGDISHA scheme is given as Annexure-I .

- (b): The  following  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  Integrate  AI  and Cybersecurity Training into Skill Development Programmes:
- (a) Cyber Surakshit Bharat -  The Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative of the government offers  free  cybersecurity  training  sessions  for  Chief  Information  Security  Officers (CISOs) of government organizations and small businesses, helping them secure their digital assets. Under the Information Security Education & Awareness (ISEA) project one  of  the  thematic  areas  includes  capacity  building  in  AI-driven  threat  detection, automation,  and  cyber  defense  strategies,  aimed  at  equipping  stakeholders  with cutting-edge skills in cybersecurity.
- (ii) FutureSkills Prime - MeitY has initiated a programme titled 'FutureSkills PRIME', jointly with National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), aimed  at  re-skilling/  up-skilling  candidates  in  new/emerging  technologies,  namely, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, Augmented/Virtual

Reality, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, Additive Manufacturing/ 3D Printing, Cloud Computing, Social & Mobile and Cyber Security.

- (iii) The National  Institute  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (NIELIT) is actively integrating AI and cybersecurity training into its skill development programs by offering NSQF-aligned courses designed to equip professionals and students with in-depth  knowledge.  These  courses  range  from  foundational  AI  applications  to specialized  cybersecurity  training,  covering  various  skill  levels  and  durations.  In addition to standardized courses, NIELIT also provides customized training, workshops, and awareness programs to promote cybersecurity best practices. Further, NIELIT  has  also  established  strategic  collaborations  with  leading  IT  companies through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to design skill development courses aligned  with  industry  requirements.  These  partnerships  aim  to  equip  students  with industry-relevant skills, enhancing digital literacy  and  employability in the evolving digital economy.
- (iv) YUVAi-  Youth  for  Unnati  and  Vikas  with  AI :  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 8thto 12thwith AI tech and social skills in an inclusive manner. The programme provides 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.
- (c): Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  is  implementing  its flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), since 2015, for imparting skill development training through Short-Term Training (STT) and up-skilling and re-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to youth across the country with aim to enhance the employability of the youth to access employment opportunities by equipping them with industry  relevant  skills  including  Artificial  Intelligence,  Cyber  security.  As  on  31.12.2024, 19,715  candidates  have  been  trained/oriented  in  AI/Cybersecurity-related  job  roles  under PMKVY 4.0.

Further,  Directorate  General  of  Training  (DGT)  under  MSDE  has  introduced  one  course 'Artificial  Intelligence  Programming  Assistant  (AIPA)'  to  impart  AI-based  skill  training through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). A micro-credential  course  'Introduction  to  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)'  of  7.5-hour  has  been developed for all CTS trainees in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), in collaboration with industry and academic experts.

- (d): MSDE has launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform, a comprehensive and accessible  platform  for  skill  enhancement,  offering  industry-relevant  skill  courses,  job opportunities,  and  entrepreneurship  support  to  youth  of  the  country  from  rural  and  urban areas.  SIDH  offers  an  extensive  array  of  AI  and  ML  courses,  ranging  from  foundational programs  like  'Fundamentals  of  Azure  AI  Speech'  and  'Machine  Learning',  to  specialized offerings such as 'Google Cloud Generative AI' and 'AI Strategy to Create Business Value in Healthcare',  to  cater  to  varying  levels  of  expertise  and  application,  enabling  participants  to stay at the forefront of AI and ML technology.

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## Annexure-I

## State/UT-wise achievement made under PMGDISHA Scheme

| Sl. No.   | State Name                         | Registered Candidates   | Trained Candidates   |
|-----------|------------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
| 1         | Andaman and Nicobar Islands        | 5,564                   | 2,931                |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh                     | 23,01,731               | 19,17,452            |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 14,949                  | 11,615               |
| 4         | Assam                              | 27,21,585               | 23,60,195            |
| 5         | Bihar                              | 82,40,606               | 74,12,740            |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh                       | 24,86,455               | 21,37,064            |
| 7         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu | 20,522                  | 18,029               |
| 8         | Goa                                | 58,569                  | 53,784               |
| 9         | Gujarat                            | 30,31,310               | 26,83,286            |
| 10        | Haryana                            | 18,57,815               | 15,77,109            |
| 11        | Himachal Pradesh                   | 6,61,922                | 5,32,976             |
| 12        | Jammu and Kashmir                  | 8,70,451                | 7,06,991             |
| 13        | Jharkhand                          | 27,52,731               | 22,86,356            |
| 14        | Karnataka                          | 29,64,726               | 24,40,957            |
| 15        | Kerala                             | 1,77,165                | 1,18,132             |
| 16        | Ladakh                             | 24,785                  | 22,122               |
| 17        | Lakshadweep                        | 142                     | 35                   |
| 18        | Madhya Pradesh                     | 56,92,467               | 50,69,449            |
| 19        | Maharashtra                        | 61,23,970               | 53,23,817            |
| 20        | Manipur                            | 28,397                  | 18,286               |
| 21        | Meghalaya                          | 1,52,783                | 1,06,063             |
| 22        | Mizoram                            | 30,317                  | 23,125               |
| 23        | Nagaland                           | 11,990                  | 8,968                |
| 24        | Odisha                             | 36,16,441               | 30,86,143            |
| 25        | Puducherry                         | 22,079                  | 15,801               |
| 26        | Punjab                             | 17,46,448               | 15,14,820            |
| 27        | Rajasthan                          | 45,06,184               | 39,70,690            |
| 28        | Sikkim                             | 27,035                  | 23,122               |
| 29        | Tamil Nadu                         | 17,04,537               | 14,07,880            |
| 30        | Telangana                          | 14,56,226               | 12,10,448            |
| 31        | Tripura                            | 3,25,000                | 2,64,186             |
| 32        | Uttar Pradesh                      | 1,63,14,369             | 1,45,48,273          |
| 33        | Uttarakhand                        | 7,85,978                | 6,73,306             |
| 34        | West Bengal                        | 28,36,714               | 23,95,565            |
| Total     | Total                              | 7,35,71,963             | 6,39,41,716          |

*Chandigarh and Delhi are in urban agglomeration, hence not covered under the scheme.

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