In a significant boost to India's skill development ecosystem, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is expanding its partnership with Microsoft to train 2 lakh vocational students in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to equip trainers and trainees with advanced tools, curricula, and certifications in areas like AI, 3D design, and manufacturing.

The collaboration is geared towards modernizing vocational training, bridging the gap between education and industry, and preparing India’s workforce for future technologies. It represents a major step towards building a globally competitive, technology-driven, skilled talent ecosystem.

MSDE has been actively working to democratize access to AI education and equip citizens with emerging digital skills. As part of its efforts, the ministry has introduced short-term courses on AI, Big Data, Cybersecurity, and Blockchain, partnering with global tech giants like IBM, Microsoft, and Cisco.

Microsoft has also pledged to equip 5 lakh individuals, including students, educators, government officials, developers, and women entrepreneurs, with AI skills by 2026, in collaboration with the India AI mission. This initiative builds upon Microsoft's ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative, through which the company had already trained 2.4 million individuals in AI, surpassing its initial goal of 2 million by 2025. A significant portion of these participants hailed from Tier II and Tier III cities, with a strong representation of women.

MSDE has also partnered with Meta to launch an AI Assistant for the Skill India Mission and establish 5 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR). The AI-powered chatbot, based on Meta's open-source Llama model, will enhance the learner experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal. The 5 CoEs, located at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur, will provide learners and instructors with VR technology to enhance their skills in an engaging environment.

These initiatives align with the government's focus on building entrepreneurial capabilities and easing access to credit. Through the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, over 12.75 lakh individuals have received entrepreneurship training.