National AI Skilling Initiative records 60,253 enrolments in Phase I; Phase II details being finalised
New Delhi, August 12
The National Artificial Intelligence Skilling Initiative has recorded 60,253 applications and enrolments under Phase I while the government is finalising the details of Phase II, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on Wednessday.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
"The total number of applications received, and participants enrolled under Phase I of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling Initiative as on date is 60,253," the release said.
As India's AI skilling efforts gain momentum, over 4,600 participants have completed two modules of Phase I, while more than 500 participants have completed all four modules of the programme. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the National AI Skilling Initiative in March 2026.
"The total number of participants who have completed 2 Modules of Phase I of the programme are 4620 and those who have completed all 4 Modules of Phase I of the programme are 552, the release noted.
According to the release, Phase I of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling Initiative comprises four modules with a total duration of 33 hours, delivered through two learning platforms. The first platform offers two modules: AI Essentials, which focuses on developing practical skills to enhance daily productivity, synthesise data and create content using AI tools, and Prompting Essentials, which provides participants with frameworks and techniques to write effective and professional prompts.
The second platform covers Introduction to Generative AI, aimed at helping participants understand the fundamentals of large language models (LLMs) and responsible AI practices, followed by Generative AI Leader, which focuses on workflow automation and the strategic use of generative AI for organisational transformation, the release said.
"The details of Phase II, including the curriculum, modules and course duration, are under finalisation," it said adding, "The Government's role has been to provide strategic direction and facilitating the implementation of the programme through IICT with the objective of enhancing AI literacy and equipping students with industry-relevant digital skills."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The completion rate is concerning though. Only 4,620 completed 2 modules and just 552 finished all 4. That's less than 1% of enrollments! Seems like the drop-off rate is huge. Maybe the course is too long or the platform is difficult to navigate? The government should look into this before scaling Phase II.
As someone who works in tech, I appreciate that the modules include practical stuff like prompting and GenAI fundamentals rather than just theory. But 33 hours for four modules seems too basic. The industry needs people who can actually build models, not just use tools. Still, it's a start, and I'm glad we're finally taking AI skills seriously.
So glad they're partnering with IICT for this! We need more such programs in government institutions, not just private ed-tech companies. The "AI Essentials" and "Prompting Essentials" parts sound practical for daily use. Hopefully they'll offer certificates that can be used for job applications. Also, the timing is perfect with so many AI jobs opening up in India.
I'm a final-year engineering student and I enrolled in Phase I. The content is genuinely helpful, especially the "Generative AI Leader" module. But there are technical glitches in the platform sometimes, and the support isn't great. I hope Phase II addresses these issues. Also, please issue verified certificates - that will motivate more students to complete all modules. 🙏
Impressive number for the first phase! I'm a product manager in Bengaluru, and I've seen firsthand how
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