Microsoft has partnered with the government’s India AI Mission to equip 500,000 people with AI skills by 2026. The collaboration, announced by Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Wednesday, aims to foster AI-driven innovation, boost productivity, and promote inclusive growth across the country.
The initiative, in partnership with Digital India Corporation’s India AI, will focus on training students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs. An AI Center of Excellence, named ‘AI Catalysts,’ will be established to encourage rural AI innovation and support 100,000 developers through hackathons, community solutions, and an AI marketplace.
Additionally, Microsoft will create ‘AI Productivity Labs’ at 20 National Skill Training Institutes and NIELIT centers in 10 states to provide foundational AI courses for 20,000 educators. The collaboration also targets AI-enabled solutions for key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and accessibility.
“We look forward to extending the benefits of AI to every corner of the country, democratizing technology access,” said Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia.
Separately, Microsoft and RailTel agreed on a five-year partnership to advance AI and cloud adoption in Indian railways and the public sector.
Microsoft also announced a $3 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, including new data centers, over the next two years. Aiming to train 10 million people in AI by 2030, the company has already provided AI training to 2.4 million Indians, including students, civil servants, and individuals with disabilities.