The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) plans to expand the National AI Skills Programme to rural, remote and underserved areas to provide more young people with training in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The expansion is aimed at improving employment opportunities, increasing digital inclusion and building skills in artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing and other emerging fields.
According to a ministry document, the government is already offering training in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science and software development.
Under 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.
Other initiatives include the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative, Google certification training for government employees, the National AI Upskilling Programme with Meta, DigiSkills, Code4AI and the National AI Innovation Hub.
More than 900,000 training sessions were delivered through different DigiSkills courses during fiscal year 2025-26. Meanwhile, Code4AI is planned to train 7,500 people in AI-driven full-stack development and related technologies.
The ministry has identified a lack of training facilities, weak connectivity, a shortage of qualified instructors and limited awareness as major barriers to participation in underserved areas.
To address these challenges, the government is considering regional training hubs, online and hybrid learning programmes, partnerships with universities and industry, and scholarships and targeted support for women and disadvantaged groups.
The ministry may first conduct a nationwide needs assessment to identify underserved regions and priority skills before developing a phased expansion plan.
The proposals also include specialized courses in artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, cybersecurity and cloud computing, along with online learning platforms, mobile training facilities and regional technology centers.
