India’s new AI initiatives aim to take technology to villages through existing national schemes

A series of new artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives were launched at the AI Impact Festival 2025 in New Delhi, with the Union government emphasising that the programmes are designed for the entire country, including rural and remote areas. The initiatives, which align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, are expected to expand AI access to students, teachers, farmers and rural communities through existing national-level digital infrastructure programmes.

At the event, Intel was commended for rolling out AI-driven educational and skilling programmes that support the government’s vision of making AI inclusive, affordable and available to all citizens. The initiatives are expected to accelerate India’s digital transformation and contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed, digitally empowered and future-ready India.

Nationwide Implementation Through Rural Connectivity

Officials clarified that rural integration will be possible mainly because India has already built the foundational digital architecture required to support emerging technologies. The rollout will rely on the expansion of high-speed broadband under BharatNet, which aims to connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats. According to the Department of Telecommunications, more than two lakh gram panchayats have already been connected with fibre, creating the necessary backbone for delivering AI-powered services to villages.

Additionally, the PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) initiative, which provides public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country, is expected to help in bridging the rural–urban digital divide. Thousands of hotspots have been deployed, allowing students and villagers to access online AI training modules and digital learning platforms at low cost.

AI Education in Rural Schools Under NEP 2020

The government confirmed that the AI initiatives announced at the festival are linked to the recommendations of NEP 2020, which emphasises comprehensive digital education. Rural schools will receive AI-based learning content, teacher training, and digital infrastructure under ongoing schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, PM eVidya, and the digital education roadmap of the Ministry of Education.

Intel’s partnership with CBSE and the Ministry of Education under the “AI For All” programme already available in multiple Indian languages—has reached more than 40 lakh students, including those from rural backgrounds. Officials said the newly launched programmes will build upon this foundation by providing interactive learning tools, AI-ready curriculum and capacity-building support for teachers working in village schools.

Agriculture, Healthcare and Rural Skill Development

Government departments have also noted that AI has already begun influencing rural livelihoods through ongoing projects. Under the Digital Agriculture Mission 2021–25, AI is being used for crop monitoring, weather prediction, market price forecasting and soil assessment. Pilot projects involving AI-based advisory tools are functional in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, offering a roadmap for wider rural expansion.

The rural healthcare system is also expected to benefit from AI-assisted diagnostics and telemedicine. India’s national telemedicine service, eSanjeevani, has recorded more than 15 crore consultations, many of them from rural areas where access to doctors is limited. AI-supported triage tools and mobile health applications are expected to strengthen frontline services provided by ASHA and ANM workers.

Skill development remains a major focus. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), more than six crore rural citizens have already been trained in basic digital literacy. New AI-based skilling modules, entrepreneurs’ toolkits and village innovation hubs are expected to be integrated with this platform to ensure rural youth and women’s self-help groups (SHGs) gain access to modern technology.

AI for Rural Governance and Public Services

Officials noted that rural governance mechanisms will also adopt AI-enabled tools. These include beneficiary verification systems, real-time monitoring of welfare schemes, support for smart village planning, and automated grievance redressal mechanisms. Such tools are expected to help gram panchayats operate more efficiently and transparently.

A Vision for Inclusive AI Growth

The government reiterated that the new initiatives launched at the festival are not restricted to metropolitan or urban centres. Instead, they are designed to integrate with existing rural infrastructure, ensuring that villages are not left behind in the next phase of technological advancement. The broader goal is to ensure that India’s human intelligence and artificial intelligence work together to drive socioeconomic development and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Officials emphasised that the success of these initiatives depends on the continued expansion of digital connectivity and the effective training of students, teachers, farmers, health workers and local administrators.