Bhavan’s AI literacy course to support upskilling drive

With the global AI landscape evolving at breakneck speed and countries racing to upskill their workforce to stay competitive in the AI-driven economy, India has intensified efforts to build AI literacy and practical skills across sectors, aiming to equip its workforce to not just adopt but actively shape the AI-driven future.

Premier Indian institutes are expanding AI education to build a future-ready workforce. Top technical and management schools -- from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the Indian School of Business (ISB), and other leading universities -- have launched specialised AI courses, certifications, and executive programmes.

These initiatives focus on advanced machine learning, generative AI, and practical applications in industry, catering both to students and working professionals. By combining cutting-edge research with applied learn-ing, these institutes are helping India create a pool of skilled AI professionals capable of meeting domestic and global technology demands.

Among these initiatives, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan has introduced a grassroots programme, Certificate in Bharatiya/Indic Artificial Intelligence and AI4Bharat, in partnership with AI4aBillion.ai and reArmenia Academy. The course offers entry-level AI education in Hinglish, covering practical applications such as AI-driven con-tent creation, low-code tools, and process automation over 20 weekend classes.

K Siva Prasad, Director of BVB Delhi Kendra, highlighted the programme's social intent, affordability (Rs 8,000), and inclusivity with an 'Age No Bar' policy.

Faculty chair Rohit Bansal teaches the course gratis.

Prasad stressed that while global platforms like the AI Impact Summit 2026 shape high-level discourse, grass-roots initiatives like this are critical to preparing India's workforce to actively participate in and influence the AI revolution. The programme aims to empower learners across sectors to use AI tools productively in com-munication, administration, and small enterprises.

"Artificial Intelligence is no longer a frontier technology confined to research labs or large corporations. It is rapidly becoming a foundational layer across sectors. We felt that if BVB does not intervene now at the foun-dational level, a vast segment of India's population could be left behind," Prasad said.

He noted that while India has made strides in digital public infrastructure, AI literacy at the bottom of the pyramid remains limited.