The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has recently announced a partnership with Meta today for the launch of two initiatives: an AI Assistant for the Skill India Mission and the establishment of 5 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR). Under this, an innovative AI-powered chatbot powered by Meta’s open-source Llama model will be developed to enhance the learner experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal.
By making Meta’s open-source AI models accessible to India’s AI ecosystem, it envisions a collaborative e-governance framework for the adoption of impactful AI solutions with the potential for catalyzing large-scale socio-economic transformation in line with India’s AI Mission. These 5 CoEs at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) located at Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai and Kanpur will equip learners and instructors with the latest VR technology to learn and enhance existing skills in a safe, immersive, and engaging environment.
The collaboration on AI assistants aims to streamline information access, improve learning outcomes, and provide students with seamless support through an intuitive digital interface. The 5 CoEs will also provide realistic simulations, improve engagement, and increase accessibility to skill development training.
Commenting on the partnership, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said:
Our mission at the Ministry is to empower India’s youth with the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. By integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and mixed reality into the Skill India ecosystem, we are democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies that enable personalized learning pathways for the country’s youth. Our partnership with Meta today is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
The Skill India Digital Portal has become a cornerstone of the nation’s skilling ecosystem, with millions of students accessing courses to improve their employability. With the launch of the AI chatbot, MSDE and Meta are taking a significant step forward in revolutionizing how students interact with course content and prepare for the future.
Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, said:
At Meta, we are committed to leveraging frontier technologies like AI, VR and MR to impact India’s economic development. These partnerships with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MDSE) testify to our commitment to bridging the gap between technology and education. By integrating advanced technologies like Open-Source Llama, we aim to empower not just the students but also educators and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital-first world.
Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the AI assistant project, will develop and deploy the chatbot, which will be piloted over six months. The chatbot, integrated into the SID Portal, will offer 24/7 assistance to users, facilitating quick discovery of course information, interactive Q&A for course content, and access to lecture summaries and relevant videos for revision.
The chatbot will be available on WhatsApp in English, Hindi, and Hinglish, as well as voice capabilities, making it more accessible to users across India. In addition, users can search for specific course topics, find skilling centres, explore job listings based on location and interest, and receive tailored feedback for continuous improvement. It will also provide valuable analytics to the MSDE to further optimize the platform.
Skillveri, the technical partner for establishing the CoEs, will provide cutting-edge VR and MR resources and curriculum, as well as trained professionals to equip learners and instructors with the latest technology, enabling immersive and interactive learning experiences.
