Digital
India powers up nationwide AI literacy with Yuva AI
MUMBAI: ‘AI for the people, by the people, for the people— India is switching on a national reboot. In a move that blends inclusion with innovation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched ‘Yuva AI for all’ , a free, beginner-friendly course designed to give every citizen a clear, no-nonsense introduction to artificial intelligence.’
Rolled out under the IndiaAI Mission, the programme aims to train one crore learners in foundational AI skills: an ambitious target, but one the government believes is achievable thanks to the course’s short, accessible 4.5-hour format. Think weekend learning, not tech marathon.
Available on Futureskills prime, igot Karmayogi and select ed-tech platforms, the course has been pitched as India’s first mass-scale AI literacy module. Every participant earns an official Government of India certificate, adding a neat career-friendly credential to student and professional profiles.
The content spans six compact modules, covering what AI is, how it works behind the screen, how it shapes daily life, and how to use it responsibly. Real-world Indian examples keep the lessons grounded, while the final module looks at career opportunities emerging in an AI-powered economy.
Inside the course, learners can expect to: understand how AI systems make decisions, explore use cases in education, creativity and the workplace, learn safe and responsible AI practices, study India-specific applications and discover new career pathways shaped by AI.
Crucially, the programme isn’t trying to turn novices into engineers. It’s designed to strip away the fear and jargon surrounding AI, something many first-time learners struggle with. The bite-sized design is meant to welcome the curious, the cautious and the completely new.
Meity says the initiative is central to India’s push for an AI-ready workforce, complementing other IndiaAI Mission projects across infrastructure, skilling and developer tools. The curriculum has been developed by AI expert Jaspreet Bindra, who has woven global learning with India’s cultural and economic context.
Bridging the digital divide is another key objective. As AI tools seep into everyday life, from chatbots to photo apps, millions still remain unsure of how the technology actually operates. A free national course helps demystify the subject just as concerns around misinformation and AI safety continue to rise.
Enrolment is open to everyone, with no eligibility criteria. Learners can simply sign in on Futureskills Prime or igot Karmayogi and begin.
Digital
Ethical AI must benefit society, not dominate it, says WFEB chief Sanjay Pradhan at IAA event
At Mumbai event, ethics expert urges businesses and governments to shape AI responsibly
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence may be racing ahead at lightning speed, but its direction must still be guided by human conscience. That was the central message delivered by Sanjay Pradhan, president of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), during the latest edition of IAA Conversations held in Mumbai.
The session was organised by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) in association with The Free Press Journal at the Free Press House on 7 March. Addressing a packed audience, Pradhan called for stronger ethical leadership to ensure AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than one that governs it.
“Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most powerful technologies humanity has created,” Pradhan said. “It is unlocking breakthroughs in medicine, science and creativity at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago.”
But he warned that the same technology carries serious risks. AI, he noted, can amplify disinformation faster than facts can travel, compromise privacy, deepen discrimination and disrupt millions of livelihoods. Referencing concerns raised by AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, Pradhan stressed that the real challenge is not whether AI will shape the world, but whether humans will shape it with ethics and wisdom.
Structuring his talk around four guiding questions, why, what, how and who, Pradhan introduced the audience to WFEB’s emerging AI Ethics Partnership, a global platform aimed at advancing responsible artificial intelligence. He outlined four priority concerns that demand urgent attention: disinformation, bias and discrimination, data privacy and job security.
To make the idea of ethical AI easier to grasp, Pradhan offered a simple metaphor. Ethical AI, he said, is like a three layered cake. The outer layer represents the visible value ethical AI creates for businesses and society. The middle layer is organisational culture that moves ethics from written codes to everyday practice. The innermost layer, however, is the most crucial, the conscience of individual leaders.
Drawing from Indian philosophical thought through WFEB co-founder Ravi Shankar, Pradhan noted that while artificial intelligence can reproduce stored knowledge, true intelligence is boundless and rooted in conscience, creativity and compassion. Practices such as breathwork and meditation, he suggested, can help leaders develop the calm clarity needed for ethical decision making.
The event also featured a discussion with Maninder Adityaraj Singh, chief of staff and head of innovation at Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Yash Johri, lawyer, Supreme Court of India.
Opening the session, IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani, highlighted the need for industries to understand and engage with AI responsibly.
“AI has to be befriended and understood,” added Rediffusion managing director and AIAI national convenor Sandeep Goyal. “Its ethical use will determine whether it becomes a friend or a foe.”
As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, Pradhan ended with a simple but powerful call to action. Businesses, governments and individuals must work together to ensure that the algorithms shaping the future reflect human values rather than just cold logic.
