The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) plans to expand the National AI Skills Program to rural, remote and underserved areas to provide more young people with training in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The proposed expansion aims to improve employment opportunities and digital inclusion while developing skills in areas including artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
Under the AI Policy 2025, the government plans to train one million new and existing IT graduates in IT and related technologies over five years. It also aims to equip 10,000 trainers with emerging technology skills by 2027.
The government is already running several training initiatives, including the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative, DigiSkills, Code4AI, the National AI Innovation Hub and certification programs for government employees. More than 900,000 training sessions were delivered through DigiSkills during fiscal year 2025-26.
The ministry has identified limited training facilities, poor internet connectivity, a shortage of qualified instructors and low awareness as key barriers in underserved areas. Proposed measures include regional training hubs, online and hybrid learning, university and industry partnerships, mobile training facilities and scholarships for women and disadvantaged groups.
The government may conduct a nationwide needs assessment to identify underserved regions and priority skills before developing a phased expansion plan.
