Aimed at up-skilling and re-skilling of information technology (IT) manpower for employability, the FurtureSkills Prime program of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recorded over 18.56 lakh registrations from candidates. Jitin Prasada, the Minister of State (MoS), MeitY shared the information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The MoS stated that over 3.37 Lakh candidates have completed their course under the program.
The FutureSkills Prime is a program initiated by MeitY to provide for the Re-skilling and Up-skilling of IT manpower for employability in 10 new or emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Indicating India’s growth in AI skill penetration, the Stanford AI Index 2024 highlights that India tops global 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). Additionally, India's AI talent concentration has seen significant growth, with a 263 per cent increase from 2016 onwards.
As per the BCG-NASSCOM report 2024, the AI market in India is witnessing robust growth, projected at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25 to 35 per cent, according to the information shared by the MoS.
The Scheme of Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence implemented by MeitY in partnership with NASSCOM, is supporting startups in developing AI-based tools and applications that are of use to manufacturing companies.
National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY in collaboration with its partners, has implemented 'YUVAi: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI'- A national programme to enable school students from classes 8th to 12th with AI tech and social skills in an inclusive manner. The program will provide a platform for youth to learn and apply AI skills in 8 thematic areas- Krishi (agriculture), Aarogya (well-being), Shiksha (education), Paryavaran (environment), Parivahan (transport), Grameen Vikas (rural development), Smart Cities and Vidhi aur Nyaay (law and justice). (ANI)