Govt Launches AI Skilling Drive for Creative Sector: 15,000 Scholarships Announced with Google & YouTube Partnership

The programme follows a structured two-phase approach, designed to ensure both conceptual understanding and hands-on expertise.

In a major push to future-proof India's creative workforce, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), has launched a nationwide AI skilling initiative aimed at transforming talent across media and digital industries.

Developed in partnership with global tech leaders Google and YouTube, the programme will offer 15,000 fully supported scholarships, targeting emerging professionals in media, entertainment, animation, gaming, and digital storytelling—sectors increasingly being reshaped by artificial intelligence.

With enrolment now open, the initiative is being positioned as a flagship effort to integrate AI into India's creative economy, equipping participants with cutting-edge, industry-ready skills.

A Two-Phase Learning Model: From Foundations to Real-World Application

The programme follows a structured two-phase approach, designed to ensure both conceptual understanding and hands-on expertise.

Phase I: Foundation (Online Learning at Scale)The first phase focuses on building core AI literacy among 15,000 participants through:

• Google Career Certificates

• Google Cloud Generative AI learning pathways

Participants will undergo approximately 33 hours of online training, covering:

• Fundamentals of generative AI

• Prompt engineering techniques

• Responsible and ethical AI practices

The curriculum is designed to democratize access to AI education, enabling learners to develop practical problem-solving skills applicable to real-world scenarios while connecting them to global employer networks.

Phase II: Specialisation (Hybrid, Project-Based Learning)Learners who successfully complete the foundation stage will advance to an intensive specialization phase, delivered through a hybrid model combining online and hands-on training.

This stage emphasizes:

• Project-based learning in storytelling and content production

• Use of advanced AI tools for creative workflows

• Platform-level best practices for audience reach and engagement

Co-developed by IICT and YouTube, the curriculum integrates modules such as Google Developers Codelabs, offering direct exposure to industry tools and production environments.

AI Skills House: A Digital Hub for Creative Innovation

The programme will be anchored by the "AI Skills House" platform, which will provide structured learning tracks in:

• Generative AI applications

• Workflow automation

• AI-driven decision-making tools

By blending technical proficiency with creative execution, the platform aims to nurture a new generation of professionals capable of driving innovation across India's rapidly evolving digital content ecosystem.

Strategic Push for India's Creative Economy

The initiative aligns with the Government's broader vision of strengthening India's creative and digital economy, where content creation, gaming, and media are emerging as high-growth sectors.

Officials say the programme is not just about training—but about building a high-impact talent pipeline that can:

• Integrate AI into mainstream production workflows

• Enhance global competitiveness of Indian content creators

• Support innovation in storytelling and digital media

IICT Leads Nationwide Rollout

As the designated implementation partner, IICT is overseeing:

• Curriculum design and delivery

• Nationwide outreach and candidate selection

• Programme execution and monitoring

The institute has worked closely with Google and YouTube to ensure the curriculum is aligned with real industry needs, focusing on production-ready skills from the outset.

Bridging the Gap Between Creativity and Technology

According to Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, the initiative directly addresses a critical national requirement—preparing creative professionals to apply AI in real-world scenarios across content creation, production, and distribution.

"This programme is structured to enable practical application of AI, ensuring that talent is not just trained, but industry-ready," he noted.

Opportunity for Emerging Talent

With applications now open, aspiring professionals across creative domains are being encouraged to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape global content ecosystems, this initiative marks a significant step in ensuring that India's creative workforce remains competitive, innovative, and future-ready.