MSDE Partners with Meta to Launch AI Assistant for Skill India Mission and Establish 5 VR and MR Centers of Excellence

New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) announced a strategic partnership with Meta today to launch two key initiatives aimed at advancing the Skill India Mission. The initiatives include the introduction of an AI Assistant for the Skill India Digital (SID) portal and the establishment of five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) focused on Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across India.

The AI Assistant, powered by Meta’s open-source Llama model, will revolutionize the learning experience for users on the Skill India Digital portal by offering 24/7 support. It will provide course information, interactive Q&A, access to lecture summaries, and relevant videos for revision. Available in English, Hindi, and Hinglish via WhatsApp, the AI chatbot will also offer voice capabilities, making it accessible to a wide range of learners across the country. Additionally, the chatbot will help users search for specific course topics, locate skilling centers, explore job listings, and receive tailored feedback, all while providing MSDE with valuable data analytics to enhance the platform further.

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, hailed the partnership, stating, “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, enabling personalized learning pathways for the youth of the country.”

In addition to the AI Assistant, five CoEs will be established at NSTIs in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur. These centers will offer learners and instructors the opportunity to train using the latest VR and MR technologies, providing immersive and engaging learning environments. The CoEs are designed to enhance skill development by simulating real-world scenarios in a safe and interactive manner, improving both engagement and accessibility.

Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, emphasized Meta’s commitment to India’s digital growth, saying, “At Meta, we are committed to leveraging frontier technologies like AI, VR, and MR to create meaningful impact for the economic development of India. These partnerships with the MSDE are a testament to our commitment to bridging the gap between technology and education.”

The AI chatbot will undergo a six-month pilot phase, developed by Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the project. Meanwhile, Skillveri, the technical partner for the CoEs, will provide cutting-edge VR and MR resources and curriculum, ensuring that both students and educators benefit from these advanced technologies.