Prog To Train 1 Mn Young Ones In AI Skills

Rajasthan Hosts Regional AI Impact Conference, Advancing India’s Vision for Inclusive and Responsible AI

A major highlight of the conference was the announcement and launch of several national and state-level AI initiatives

FinTech BizNews Service

Mumbai, 7 January 2026: The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference was held on Tuesday, 06th January 2026, bringing together national and state leadership, policymakers, industry leaders, startups, and academia to deliberate on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in governance, infrastructure, innovation, and workforce development. The conference serves as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit to be held from 15-20 February 2026.

The conference was attended by Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India (attended virtually), Shri. Jitin Prasada, Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics & IT, Government of India, and Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Cabinet Minister for IT & Communication, Government of Rajasthan, along with senior officials from the MeitY and Government of Rajasthan. Their participation underscored the strong Centre–State collaboration in positioning Rajasthan as a key contributor to India’s AI-led growth journey.

Addressing the gathering Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw,  Minister for Electronics & IT, Government of India said “The kind of transformation brought about by the Industrial Revolution, electricity, computers, semiconductors, the internet, and mobile technology is now set to occur through artificial intelligence at the same scale. The Prime Minister has a clear mission to democratize technology so that intelligence powered by AI reaches every individual, every household, and every enterprise, rather than remaining confined to a select few. In line with this mission, a programme has been launched today to train one million young people in artificial intelligence skills, ensuring that India’s youth are fully prepared for this new technological era.”

Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics & IT, Government of India said “Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly believes that technology must be democratized. Guided by this vision, the government has committed an investment of ₹10,000 crore under the India AI Mission to leverage artificial intelligence across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and the environment. The objective is to enhance citizens’ incomes, improve ease of living, and boost the overall productivity of the nation through responsible and inclusive use of AI.”

Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan said ”Today, Rajasthan is moving beyond e-governance and inclusion and taking decisive steps towards becoming a leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Artificial intelligence represents the next major phase in our country’s journey. Advancing further in this direction, we have introduced an AI and ML policy. This policy will ensure that AI systems become more transparent, fair, and accountable to the principles of integrity. Through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, public service delivery can be made faster, more transparent, and more citizen-centric. This will enhance administrative efficiency and also promote innovation-driven economic growth.”

A major highlight of the conference was the announcement and launch of several national and state-level AI initiatives, reinforcing Rajasthan’s role as a key hub for AI-led innovation and governance. These programmes and initiatives are as follows

• YUVA AI for All – National AI Literacy Program a flagship initiative of the Government of India led by the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY, aimed at building foundational AI awareness among students and youth nationwide. Anchored around National Youth Day (12 January), the campaign seeks to mobilize lakhs of learners to complete a short, self-paced Foundational AI (AI 101) course, creating a nationwide moment of collective AI learning aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat and inclusive, democratic AI adoption.
• Launch of the Rajasthan AI/ML Policy 2026 which aims to strengthen governance, accelerate economic growth, foster research, and innovation. and generate high value employment. The launch of the policy followed by the launch of Rajasthan’s AI portal
• iStart Learning Management System (LMS) to support skill development and entrepreneurship and innovation across the state
• Rajasthan AVGC-XR Portal, aimed at strengthening the Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality ecosystem in the state. An AI-themed video showcasing India’s and Rajasthan’s AI vision was also unveiled
• Strengthening institutional collaboration, the event saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google, IIT Delhi, National Law University, Jodhpur, and the Skill Development Network (Wadhwani Foundation) to advance AI research, skilling, ethical frameworks, and innovation ecosystems.

A high-level strategic session brought together Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, CEO of the IndiaAI Mission and DG, NIC, in conversation with Shri Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director – South Asia, NVIDIA, moderated by Shri Sameer Jain, Managing Director, Primus Partners. The discussion examined India’s strategy to democratize AI infrastructure, strengthen public–private collaboration, enable innovation at scale, and advance the creation of a global AI Safety Commons while building public-sector capacity for responsible and trusted AI.

Smt. Kavita Bhatia, Scientist ‘G', Group Coordinator, MeitY; COO IndiaAI Mission presented an overview of the IndiaAI Mission and outlined the vision and priorities of the India AI Impact Summit 2026

The conference also featured a session on “Perspective on Global AI, National AI, and Regional AI”, delivered by Sh. Avinash Sharma, Professor, IIT Jodhpur, highlighting how regional research institutions can play a critical role in shaping globally relevant, context-aware AI solutions.

Parallel thematic sessions examined AI’s real-world applications across governance, infrastructure, innovation, ethics, and employment.

The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference served as a significant regional milestone in the run-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, reinforcing India’s commitment to leveraging AI for public good, inclusive growth, and sustainable development across regions.