In News:

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, announced the establishment of three AI Centres of Excellence (CoE) focused on Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities in New Delhi.

Key Details:

1. Establishment of Three AI-CoEs:
   • Focus Areas:
     • Healthcare: Led by AIIMS and IIT Delhi.
     • Agriculture: Led by IIT Ropar, Punjab.
     • Sustainable Cities: Led by IIT Kanpur.
   • Collaboration: CoEs will work with industry partners and start-ups.
2. Financial Commitment:
   • Total Approved Budget: ?990 crore for FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
   • Purpose: Support the establishment and operation of the CoEs.
3. Vision and Impact:
   • Pradhan emphasized the CoEs' role as solution providers for global public good.
   • Expected to create a new generation of job and wealth creators.
   • Aims to strengthen India's credentials in the global AI landscape.
4. Leadership and Implementation:
   • Apex Committee: Co-chaired by Shri Sridhar Vembu (Zoho CEO).
   • Committee includes industry leaders and academic heads.
   • Shri K. Sanjay Murthy highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
5. Future Prospects:
   • Dr. Vembu noted the CoEs will enhance the health of villages and cities, nurture talent, and generate opportunities.
   • The initiative aligns with India's vision of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).
6. Presentation and Film:
   • Insights into the development of AI-CoEs presented by Smt. Saumya Gupta.
   • A short film titled "Make AI in India and Make AI work for India" was showcased.

The establishment of these Centres of Excellence in AI signifies a major step toward fostering an effective AI ecosystem in India, aimed at developing scalable solutions and enhancing human resources in critical sectors.