New Delhi: The Indian Government is set to launch the IndiaAI Mission at the Global IndiaAI Summit, scheduled for 3-4 July in New Delhi. To nurture young talent in Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has allocated a budget of Rs. 10,372 Crore for the Mission. This financial outlay will fortify the India AI Startup Financing mechanism, facilitating streamlined access to funding for budding AI startups and catalysing their journey from product development to commercialisation. The proposal also includes funding provisions for industry-led AI projects aimed at fostering social impact, propelling innovation, and encouraging entrepreneurship.

The ministry has begun its recruitment process, inviting nominations from apex institutes such as IITs and NITs, while also establishing Data and AI Labs across major Indian cities and smaller towns. These labs will impart foundational-level courses in Data and AI. In a letter addressed to 50 engineering institutes by IndiaAI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh, these institutes are instructed to handpick 10 students from B.Tech and M.Tech programmes undertaking AI projects. The programme aims to convert theoretical knowledge of AI into its most pragmatic application.

“This support is instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, thereby ensuring a workforce proficient in the essential skills needed to progress in the field of AI,” the letter stated.

According to the Ministry, this mission aims to cultivate a skilled workforce in the domain, simultaneously highlighting co-existing fellowship opportunities and providing financial aid to students pursuing AI projects. /BI