In a significant move to bolster skill development in India, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) announced a partnership with Meta to launch two key initiatives: an AI-powered Assistant for the Skill India Mission and the establishment of five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) across India. The announcement was made through a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release today.
The AI Assistant, powered by Meta’s open-source Llama model, will be integrated into the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal to enhance learners’ experiences. The initiative is aimed at providing 24/7 assistance to users, enabling easy access to course information, interactive Q&A, and revision tools. The chatbot will support multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and Hinglish, with voice capabilities, making it accessible across India’s diverse user base. It will also assist users in locating skilling centers, exploring job opportunities, and offering tailored feedback for continuous improvement.
Further strengthening India’s skill ecosystem, five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) will be set up at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur. These CoEs will leverage cutting-edge VR and MR technologies to create immersive and interactive learning environments for skill development.
Commenting on the initiative, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, “By integrating technologies like AI, VR, and MR into the Skill India ecosystem, we are democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies, enabling personalized learning pathways for the country’s youth.”
Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, added, “At Meta, we are committed to leveraging frontier technologies like AI, VR, and MR to impact India’s economic development. These partnerships aim to empower students, educators, and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital-first world.”
The initiatives aim to revolutionize India’s skill development landscape by improving accessibility, enhancing learning outcomes, and providing a collaborative e-governance framework that aligns with India’s AI Mission. The AI chatbot will be piloted for six months, while the CoEs will provide immersive VR and MR experiences, helping both learners and instructors gain cutting-edge skills.
