Lok Sabha Question No. 4979 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Generative AI Skill Programme
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri K E Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4979

ANSWERED ON -23.03.2026

## GENERATIVE AI SKILL PROGRAMME

## 4979.   SHRI K E PRAKASH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that,  despite  India  having  one  of  the  world's largest workforces and declaring an ambition to emerge as a global Artificial Intelligence (AI) leader, most of the current initiatives of the Government continue to be limited to fragmented, smaller-scale  collaborations,  primarily  targeting  ITI  students  or  specific  demographic  groups, such as women instead of launching a comprehensive national programme aimed at equipping the  general  working  population  with  foundational  skills  in  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  and Generative AI and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (b) the details of the concrete, unified and measurable target set by the Government for the number  of  existing,  non-technical  workers  to  be  provided  with  basic,  job-enabling  AI  and Generative AI skills during the next twelve months along with the modalities for achieving the same?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) Under the IndiaAI Mission, the 'IndiaAI FutureSkills' pillar focuses on expanding AI literacy and capacity building across diverse segments of society. Initiatives such as the 'YUVA AI for All' programme have been introduced to promote AI awareness and foundational literacy among a wide spectrum of learners. In addition, IndiaAI Data and AI Labs are being established across National  Institute  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (NIELIT)  centres,  ITIs,  and Polytechnics  in  tier  2  &  tier  3  cities,  to  deliver  standardised,  accessible  training  in  AI  and emerging  technologies,  in  courses  like  Fundamentals  of  Data  Annotation  using  Python, Fundamentals of Data Curation using Python.

Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), platform is also running a wide range of AI and Generative AI digital  courses.  A  total  of  over  120  AI-related  digital  courses  are  currently  available  on  the platform, out of which 11 courses are specifically focused on Generative AI.

Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) has been designed as an inclusive, nationally standardised programme  aligned  with  the  National  Skill  Qualification  Framework  (NSQF)  and  delivered through the  Skill  India  Digital  Hub  (SIDH),  aimed  at  enhancing  nationwide  accessibility.  The initiative  seeks  to  move  beyond  fragmented  approaches by  providing  structured  learning pathways beginning with foundational AI awareness for school students (Classes VI -XII) and educators, and expanding towards AI-enabled skills for the broader workforce. The programme has  evolved  to  include  sector-specific  AI  applications  across  domains  such  as  healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture,  tourism,  retail,  and  creative  industries,  thereby  integrating  AI  into real-world  job  roles  and  productivity  enhancement.  The  initiative  is  implemented  through NCVET-recognised  Awarding  Bodies  with  industry  participation,  supporting  standardisation, scalability and relevance across sectors.

Further, the Government is engaging with industry, academia, and State Governments to ensure scalable  and  inclusive  skilling  interventions,  with  a  view  to  moving  towards  a  more  holistic national ecosystem rather than isolated efforts.

(b)      The IndiaAI Mission adopts a phased and scalable approach towards AI skilling, with a focus on building foundational capabilities across sectors. These include the establishment of 570 Data and AI Labs across the country, including 27 labs in collaboration with the NIELIT for training  in  data  and  AI  foundational  courses,  and  543  labs  in  ITIs/Polytechnics  across  all States/UTs  to deliver foundational and  sectoral AI courses  tailored to India's diverse development needs. These courses in AI and related domains are being designed in alignment with industry requirements, and the labs are being equipped with appropriate infrastructure to enable hands-on learning and practical experimentation, thereby supporting the strengthening of applied AI skilling across the country.

Additionally,  standardised  AI  curricula  are  being  developed  to  cater  to  varying  skill  levels. Foundational programmes such as 'YUVA AI for All', along with courses in Data Annotation, Data Curation, and Data Science, are being rolled out to promote AI awareness and build core competencies.

The implementation approach involves partnerships with training institutions, digital platforms, and industry stakeholders, with a focus on measurable outcomes in terms of learners trained, courses delivered, and overall capacity building.

In  addition,  the  SOAR  framework  has  been  expanded  to  enable  large-scale  onboarding  of learners,  including  non-technical  workers,  through  accessible,  short-duration,  credit-aligned digital courses. The foundational course 'AI to be Aware' (15 hours, NSQF Le vel-2) under SOAR includes introductory modules on Generative AI, equipping learners with practical understanding of emerging tools, applications, and responsible usage in real-world contexts.

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