New Delhi: In a major step toward building an inclusive digital workforce, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with Microsoft to launch ‘AI Careers for Women’, a pioneering skilling initiative aimed at equipping women in higher education with industry-relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MSDE and Microsoft was signed with a shared vision to bridge the gender gap in emerging technologies and expand opportunities for women in India’s growing digital economy.
The program is designed to empower 20,000 young women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six states by offering 240 hours of structured AI training, aligned with industry needs and developed in consultation with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
The AI training will be delivered through a hub-and-spoke model, involving 30 Centres of Excellence (Hubs) located in women’s institutions and 150 educational institutions (Spokes). These centers will provide hands-on exposure to AI tools, real-world projects, expert-led sessions, certifications, internships, and career support, ensuring that learners are equipped with both technical proficiency and career readiness.
Speaking about the initiative, Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, stated:
“This initiative exemplifies how government and industry can come together to shape an inclusive and future-ready workforce. Our partnership with Microsoft underlines the Ministry’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women in emerging tech fields like AI. By embedding this program within credit-linked university curricula and aligning it with the National Education Policy (NEP), we’re reimagining 21st-century learning—making it flexible, interdisciplinary, and deeply rooted in industry needs.”
As an implementation partner, the Edunet Foundation will work closely with academic institutions, government departments, and industry bodies to deliver this ambitious initiative. The program is not only a skill-building effort but also a platform for women in rural India to become AI innovators and creators—developing AI applications and datasets that cater to local challenges and needs.
The initiative builds on Microsoft’s ongoing skilling collaborations with MSDE and reinforces its commitment to inclusive technology. Aparna Gupta, Global Delivery Center Leader, Microsoft India, said: “We believe equitable access to AI skills is crucial for inclusive economic growth. Through this collaboration, we’re strengthening capacity building across institutions in Tier-II and Tier-III towns, ultimately enabling more women to thrive in an AI-powered economy and shape the workforce of tomorrow.”
The program’s unique integration with apprenticeships, fellowships, and job opportunities, coupled with its focus on building a talent pipeline for AI innovation and rural entrepreneurship, aims to significantly increase women’s workforce participation in the digital domain. By equipping women with future-ready skills and linking them to industry pathways, the initiative promises to be a game-changer in India’s journey toward a more equitable and innovation-driven economy.
