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About 50, 000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be created in the coming five years to foster scientific thinking in students. Besides this, the government is planning to set up five national training centres with global expertise.

A total of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to be established in the country in the next five years with the idea of cultivating a scientific temper in young minds. While presenting Budget 2025 Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Atal tinkering labs will help in providing the scientific temper in youths.

Along with it, five national centres for training would also be set up with the expertise of global experts. The tinkering labs will help in research in the STEM field where students can practise oin new ideas and approaches.

The Indian government will also launch the Bhartiya Bhasha Pushtak scheme with the objective of providing a digital form of indigenous language books that will remain helpful for schools and higher education.

The finance minister also emphasised the importance of infrastructure in educational institutes that will be created in five IITs. Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship program of the Indian government, which aims at building and nurturing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. The mission has been constituted through NITI Aayog. ATL is a workspace where young minds can shape their ideas through hands-on learning and innovation.

The objectives of the AIM are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country via interventions at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels.

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary has brought out the Government's plan for utilising Artificial Intelligence in the education and skill development sectors at Google's AI for Learning Forum held at New Delhi.

The Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, initiated the series of announcements on a historic partnership between MSDE, Google Cloud and Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut, making CCSU India's first AI, enabled state university pilot, a strategic move to realise the Prime Minister's vision of a technology, powered Viksit Bharat 2047.

There was presence at the event from top Google executives such as Preeti Lobana, VP & Country Manager, Google India; Chris Phillips, VP & Global Lead for Education, Google; Wilson White, Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google APAC and Yolynd Lobo, Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Cloud, besides other senior officials.

Delivering the keynote perspective during a fireside chat moderated by Ms Yolynd Lobo, the Minister emphasised the need to break silos between education and skilling, noting that technology-especially AI-serves as the critical bridge between classroom learning and industry needs.

Under the pilot, CCSU Meerut will function as a living laboratory for AI-led institutional reform. The university plans to deploy personalized AI tutors to students, skill, gap analysis powered by AI, and use smart document processing to make administrative work more efficient. The project aims to create an expandable system that can be used by the whole higher education sector in India.

The Minister emphasized that the affiliated colleges of CCSU would be the first to get the benefit of the pilot, and the knowledge gained would be utilized to spread the idea to more than 45, 000 colleges and over 1, 200 universities in India. He further pointed out that the Model ITI Scheme worth Rs.60, 000 crore of the Government is in perfect sync with these developments. This scheme would allow vocational institutions to combine AI, driven education with their existing infrastructure, which has been modernized.

Among the various initiatives, Google's grant of Rs.85 crore (around $10 million) to Wadhwani AI will be used to integrate AI tools in national platforms like SWAYAM and Poshan Tracker, aiming to reach nearly 750 million learners.

On a call for greater attention to the ground level, the Minister exhorted Google to extend AI facilitation to Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, pointing out that teacher empowerment in these schools is the secret to opening up digital avenues in far, flung areas.

Thoroughly emphasizing India's leading position, Shri Jayant Chaudhary expressed that products developed jointly for India's extensive linguistic and geographical diversity can become prototypes for the Global South.

"When we solve for India, we solve for the world. The AI tools being built for low-cost devices and vernacular users are global public goods. India stands ready to share these 'Made in India' education models with partner nations across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America," he said, reaffirming India's commitment to Vishwa Bandhu-friendship with the world.

Phillips outlined Google's approach to responsible AI in education, emphasising learning science, productive struggle, and tools such as Gemini, Search and NotebookLM showcased during live product demonstrations at the forum.

Drawing from CCSU's implementation, MSDE will develop a National Best Practice Framework enabling colleges and universities to self-credentials as "AI-enabled institutions." CCSU will also function as a Centre of Excellence, hosting knowledge-sharing sessions across the Ministry's network.

The forum concluded with a joint photo opportunity with Shri Jayant Chaudhary and Google leadership, marking a significant milestone in India's journey towards integrating AI across education and skilling systems.

The collaboration reinforces the Government's commitment to ensuring that every learner - regardless of background or location - graduates not only with a degree, but with future-ready skills aligned to the demands of the AI-driven economy.

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras led learning platform SWAYAM plus has launched 'AI for All' courses in Hindi. The platform has launched 6 free online courses that will help learners from across the country to acquire essential AI skills in their preferred language.

The last date to apply for these courses is January 26, 2026. The link to apply is available on the official website of SWAYAM Plus at swayam-plus.swayam2.ac.in.

According to the press release by IIT Madras, these courses are designed by the experts from the IIT Madras ecosystem who have thorough academic and industry experience. The courses highlight working on hands, on activities, real datasets, and case study, based learning with a major focus on employability. No prior knowledge of AI or coding is necessary for the courses. Basic digital literacy and willingness to learn are enough, so the program is not only for first time learners but also for educators and faculty members. Each course takes between 25 and 45 hours and is freely available.

Attending the event Prof. R. Sarathi, Dean (Planning), IIT Madras, said, “With the launch of the Hindi versions, all six ‘AI for All’ courses are now accessible to a wider and more diverse learner base, including students and professionals from arts, science, commerce and allied disciplines. The initiative is designed to remove language barriers, deepen conceptual understanding and broaden participation in AI education across regions and academic backgrounds.”

The AI for All courses available in Hindi include:

1. AI for Educators: Open to aspiring teachers and K–12 teachers, focusing on AI-enabled teaching strategies, assessment and student engagement
2. AI in Physics: For UG and PG students and faculty members, exploring AI applications in solving real-world physics problems
3. AI in Chemistry: For UG and PG students and faculty members, covering AI-driven molecular predictions and chemical reaction modelling using real datasets
4. AI in Accounting: For commerce and management learners, linking accounting principles with AI-based automation using practical datasets
5. Cricket Analytics with AI: Introducing sports analytics through real-life cricket data, case studies and visualization techniques
6. AI/ML using Python: A foundational course covering Python programming, statistics, linear algebra and data visualization for AI and ML applications

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti has been awarded the Padma Shri in the science and engineering category for his contribution to computer architecture research and national security. 

Reacting to the honour, Kamakoti said the award had strengthened his resolve to contribute to the country’s progress. In a video message released late Sunday evening, he said, “The Padma Shri Award means only one thing to me. I will put all my best efforts towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Who is V Kamakoti?

V Kamakoti, or Kamakoti Veezhinathan, is a highly experienced computer science professional and academic leader who has been teaching, researching, and institution, building for decades. He is currently the Director of IIT Madras and is widely recognized for his research in computer architecture, information security, and VLSI design. Besides, over the years, he has been involved in several major national technology and security programs.

Kamakoti Veezhinathan completed his M.S. and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras. He joined the faculty of the same institute in 2001 and was made the Director in January 2022. Currently, he serves on the National Security Advisory Board, and formerly he was the Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force constituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He is also a member of the Technology committees of the National Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India.

V Kamakoti’s areas of expertise 

Kamakoti’s core areas of work include Computer Architecture, Information Security and VLSI Design. At IIT Madras, he leads the Microprocessor Development Program and the Information Security Education and Awareness Program, both funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He has also been appointed as a member of the institute body of AIIMS in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

His leadership has helped IIT Madras to maintain a solid track record of achievement in national rankings. As of 2025, the institute has been ranked number one in the engineering category for 10 consecutive years by NIRF 2025 and number one overall for the seventh consecutive year.

Besides leading the institute, Kamakoti has been entrusted with various important roles at IIT Madras like Chairman of JEE and Associate Dean for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research. In the course of his career, he has written more than 150 research articles published in various international journals and presented at international conferences. He has also guided a significant number of PhD and Masters students and has been a leading researcher in around 50 projects funded by the industry and government.

Dr Kamakoti has received numerous awards throughout his career like the DRDO Academic Excellence Award, Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award, Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship, ACCS Lifetime Achievement Award, IBM Faculty Award, and the VASVIK Industrial Research Award.

Mankind Pharma Limited has launched Digital Smart Classrooms in government schools in Uttar Pradesh under its CSR platform, KindCare, which is a demonstration of the company's continued social investment extending beyond healthcare delivery. Through this program, 460 digital classrooms have been set up in 400 government schools to promote technology, based learning to deprived communities.

The program was launched in Ghaziabad by Sunil Kumar Sharma, Cabinet Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and is being carried out in cooperation with Seeds Impact.

During the launch event, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Cabinet Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, commented

Mankind Pharma should be recognized for its persistent effort of strengthening education in underprivileged areas through the Digital Smart Classroom Initiative. The initiative, by facilitating technology- based learning in government schools, caters to the most urgent problems of access and quality when digital literacy becomes an indispensable requirement for future opportunity. Its community first approach, incorporating a major emphasis on teacher empowerment and local school ecosystem development, guarantees the sustenance of the benefits and that they would be the ones who are most in need of them.

A significant part of this programme is the empowerment of teachers. More than 2, 400 teachers have been trained to use digital tools in the classroom effectively. "Education has the potential to not only change the lives of individuals but also the whole community. Through KindCare, our CSR platform, we have consciously taken a community first approach, focusing on areas where quality education is still a problem, " said Sheetal Arora, Promoter and CEO, Mankind Pharma Limited. Digital Smart Classroom Initiative is a gesture of empathy and a sense of responsibility and it recognizes that real development only happens when students and teachers are given the right tools, confidence, and support to achieve their goals. The initiative goes beyond technology; it is about the basic human rights, equal chances, and making sure that children living in far and neglected areas are not left behind in the rapidly changing digital world."

The Uttar Pradesh government is working towards developing the state as the country’s leading startup hub. Under the Start in UP policy, the Yogi Adityanath government has approved seven ultra-modern Centres of Excellence (CoEs), for which a total of ₹27.18 crore has been released so far.

With the support of these centres, innovation, research, technological development, and employment generation are gaining fresh momentum across Uttar Pradesh. Officials said on Sunday that through these Centres of Excellence, hundreds of startups are receiving incubation support, while thousands of youths are benefiting from skill development, new employment opportunities, and a boost to indigenous technology development.

Such hubs have been a massive support for the start ups not merely by lending technical support but on top of that, they have been instrumental in raising the competitiveness of the start ups at the global level.

The establishment of Excellences Centres at Gautam Buddh Nagar, Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Saharanpur, and Ghaziabad are being backed by premier institutions like IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIM Lucknow, STPI Lucknow, and AKGEC Ghaziabad.

Consequently, startups have become capable of leveraging the facilities of world, class laboratories, supercomputing and AI/ML platforms, testing facilities, gaining mentorship, and thereby developing robust linkages with the industry.

Under the Uttar Pradesh government’s startup policy, each Centre of Excellence is eligible to receive grant-in-aid—covering both capital and operational expenses—of up to ₹10 crore over a period of five years from the date of establishment.

The government’s objective is to make these centres self-reliant within five years while strengthening the state’s startup ecosystem in the long term.

In partnership with Microsoft, IIM Lucknow's Enterprise Incubation Centre (EIC) is running the Blockchain Technology Centre of Excellence set up in Gautam Buddh Nagar. The centre on a 10, 000, square, foot ultra, modern campus will incubate 100 startups over the next five years.

Startups are being given high end infrastructure, seed funding up to 75 lakh, expert guidance and access to angel and venture capital networks, thereby creating a strong and sustainable blockchain ecosystem in the state.

The Medical Electronics and Health Informatics (MedTech) Centre of Excellence in Lucknow is a joint initiative of STPI Lucknow, SGPGI, the Uttar Pradesh IT and Electronics Department, AIMED, AMTZ, and KIHT.

Its objective is to promote medical device and health technology startups, reduce import dependence, and advance the goals of Make in India and Digital India. Startups here receive support from technical experts, medical professionals, mentorship, and venture funding.

The 5G/6G Telecom Centre of Excellence run by IIT Kanpur in Kanpur Nagar is looking forward to the research and startup development of next generation telecommunications.

The centre is well equipped with top notch RF laboratories, AI/ML servers, supercomputing tools, and testing facilities. It is working towards making India a global leader in telecom innovation.

In a similar manner, the AI and Innovation, based Entrepreneurship (AIIDE) Centre of Excellence which is located in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), was established with the help of IIT Kanpur and FICCI. Every year it delivers to 50 AI based startups the training, mentorship, and investor connect opportunities.

The 5G/6G Ubiquitous Wireless Communication Centre of Excellence operated by IIT Roorkee in Saharanpur is aligned with India’s 6G vision. Meanwhile, the Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence established by AKGEC in Ghaziabad is preparing MSMEs and startups for global competition through advanced 3D printing and digital manufacturing technologies.

The UAV Design, Training, and Capacity Building Centre of Excellence run by IIT Kanpur in Kanpur Nagar is providing various services to drone technology startups including technical assistance, testing, design validation, and consultancy. Having a DGCA, approved flight testing zone along with state of the, art labs, the centre is making moves to establish Uttar Pradesh as a leading hub in drone technology.