New Delhi: In a major step towards strengthening India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, the IndiaAI Mission organised the AIKosh University Engagement Programme at Chitkara University, Rajpura, on Wednesday. The initiative aims to expand AI awareness, improve access to national AI resources, and prepare students for opportunities in India’s rapidly growing AI sector.
More than 250 students participated in expert sessions, live demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to familiarise them with AIKosh and the broader IndiaAI ecosystem.
AIKosh to Connect Students with National AI Resources
AIKosh, one of the key pillars of the IndiaAI Mission, serves as India’s unified AI data platform. It provides researchers, students and developers with access to high-quality datasets, AI models, toolkits and benchmarks needed to build AI applications.
During the programme, students explored the AIKosh Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Software Development Kit (SDK), which allow users to discover datasets and AI models through natural language, making AI resources more accessible even for beginners.
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Building India’s AI Talent Pipeline
The IndiaAI Mission, approved by the Government of India in March 2024, aims to position India as a global AI leader by promoting responsible AI development, indigenous innovation and wider access to AI technologies.
Addressing the participants, Director of IndiaAI Mission Md. Y. Safirulla said the initiative reflects the government’s vision of democratising artificial intelligence and ensuring its benefits reach every citizen. He added that the University Engagement Programme will connect educational institutions across the country with India’s growing AI ecosystem.
Students to Develop AI Solutions
The programme goes beyond awareness sessions. In its next phase, students will be encouraged to:
- Contribute datasets through the AIKosh open-source community.
- Improve existing datasets.
- Build proof-of-concept AI applications for public-good use cases.
- Participate in future recognition programmes for outstanding innovations.
The initiative aims to create a pathway from AI learning to real-world problem-solving.
Chitkara University Welcomes the Initiative
Chitkara University President and Co-founder Dr. Madhu Chitkara said artificial intelligence is reshaping education and innovation. She noted that collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission will equip students with practical AI skills and responsible AI practices while preparing them to contribute to India’s ambition of becoming a global AI leader.
AIKosh Continues to Expand
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), AIKosh currently hosts:
- 14,000+ datasets
- 300+ AI models
- 30+ AI toolkits
These resources support researchers, startups, developers and students working on AI solutions across sectors.
Why It Matters
The AIKosh University Engagement Programme is part of a nationwide effort to build an AI-ready workforce by connecting higher education institutions with India’s national AI infrastructure. By combining learning, research and innovation, the initiative is expected to strengthen the country’s AI talent ecosystem and support responsible AI development, helping India move closer to its vision of becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence.
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