Government Reports Over 18.56 Lakh Youths Enroll in ‘FutureSkills PRIME’ for Reskilling

The government envisions the next decade as “India’s Techade.” Over the past nine years, India has become a leading nation in developing technologies that benefit its citizens and transform their lives.

Recent reports indicate that India continues to excel in AI talent and skill penetration. According to the Stanford AI Index 2024, India leads globally in AI skill penetration rates and AI talent concentration. India’s AI skill penetration is rated at 2.8, surpassing the United States (2.2) and Germany (1.9).

India’s AI talent concentration has grown significantly, with a 263% increase since 2016. The BCG-NASSCOM report 2024 projects robust growth in India’s AI market, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25-35%.

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada shared this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

While AI may automate some routine jobs, it is also expected to create new jobs in data science and data curation, necessitating reskilling and upskilling. To address this, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated “FutureSkills PRIME,” a program for reskilling/upskilling IT manpower in 10 new and emerging technologies, including AI. So far, over 1.856 million candidates have signed up on the FutureSkills PRIME Portal, with more than 337,000 completing their courses.

The Scheme of Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, implemented by MeitY in partnership with NASSCOM, supports startups in developing AI-based tools and applications for manufacturing companies. Several such solutions have been deployed in the manufacturing sector.

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of MeitY, in collaboration with its partners, has implemented “YUVAi: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI,” a national program for school students. This program aims to equip students from classes 8 to 12 with AI and social skills in an inclusive manner. It provides a platform for youth to learn and apply AI skills in eight thematic areas: Krishi, Aarogya, Shiksha, Paryavaran, Parivahan, Grameen Vikas, Smart Cities, and Vidhi aur Nyaay.

(With ANI Inputs)
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