In June 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released a report titled ‘India’s AI Revolution: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat’, estimating that India will need 1 million skilled Artificial Intelligence (AI) professionals by 2026.
- The report highlights AI’s pivotal role in driving the country’s digital transformation and supports India’s ambition to become a USD 23–35 trillion economy by 2047.
Expansion of Technical Education:
i.As per the New Delhi (Delhi) based All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), approved B.Tech seats for 2024–25 have increased to 14.9 lakh, marking a 16% rise over four years.
ii.The increase is driven by over 50% growth in streams such as Computer Science, AI/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain.
Government Initiatives to Promote AI:
i.Under the IndiaAI Future Skills initiative, AI has been integrated into undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) levels, offering fellowships at the top 50 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) institutions.
ii.AI and Data Labs are being established in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with a model lab set up at New Delhi (Delhi) based National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) for practical training.
Promoting AI through Open Data and Centres of Excellence (CoE):
i.Acknowledging the critical role of data in AI innovation, the government has introduced the IndiaAI Dataset Platform to offer streamlined access to high-quality, non-personal datasets.
ii.Designed to host India’s largest repository of anonymised data, this platform aims to empower Indian startups and researchers in building cutting-edge AI solutions.
iii.The government has established three AI CoE in New Delhi for Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities.
Academia’s Role in AI Talent Development
i.Institutions like Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Hyderabad (Telangana) based Mahindra University are offering interdisciplinary programs in AI, embedding industry exposure, ethical AI training, and real-world applications.
ii.Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched five free AI courses on the SWAYAM(Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds) Plus platform to expand access to AI education.
Curriculum Innovation in Higher Education:
i.The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 encourages curriculum updates to include AI, 5G (5th Generation), and semiconductor design, aiming to bridge the education-employment gap.
ii.A shift from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to STEAM (adding Arts) is fostering skills like communication, creativity, and design thinking.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY):
Union Minister- Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha- Odisha)
Minister of State (MoS)– Jitin Prasada (Constituency- Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
