AI Pragya: Upskilling opens doors to digital growth

The AI Pragya initiative launched by the Uttar Pradesh government amounts to a radical move of democratising digital skills and to influence inclusive development in India. The government is not only closing the digital divide but also producing skilled workers capable of working in the future economy by training 10 lakh citizens in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and cybersecurity.

This is because the initiative is concentrated on training in the local language and the inclusion of these formats in ways that can make the rural and non-metro population have access to these opportunities hence social and economic mobility. The partnership with such global technological giants like Microsoft, Intel, HCL, Amazon, and Google, and its integration with the World Bank-funded projects, like UP AGREES, only increases its influence.

This ambitious program was announced in May 2025 as one of the primary components of the state plan on the digital divide bridging to provide the people of non-metro areas with skills of the future.

AI Pragya: Empowering youth and communities

AI Pragya is aimed at a variety of target groups such as school students, teachers, farmers, operators of public services centers and the representatives of self-help groups. The initiative makes sure that even representatives of rural areas can obtain and use high-end digital education, by providing training in their own languages, as well as using inclusive formats. The Centre of e-Governance (CEG) Society manages the program under the Department of IT and Electronics with District Magistrates managing it at the district level.

The program has established strategic relationships with the world technology giants like Microsoft, Intel, HCL, Amazon, Google and Wadhwani Foundation. Through these partnerships, quality training and quantifiable results are assured with certifications being awarded to participants at the completion of these partnerships. Employability and entrepreneurship are promoted by the orientation towards applied skills and certifications in the industry.

AI Pragya: Impact on digital growth

AI Pragya is not only a matter of personal empowerment, but it is also accelerating the expansion of digital in Uttar Pradesh. The program is also enabling the creation of a strong talent pool that may serve the state's vision of becoming a digital hub by empowering high percentages of the citizens with AI and digital skills. The program is correlated with the World Bank-supported project called the “UP agrees” that is going to transform agriculture and rural enterprise by introducing smart technologies.

The program has also faced challenges with the biggest challenge being the program running along the zero-budget model, which has been supported by the convergence of departments, as well as CSR models. Nevertheless, there is strong motivation to study among the participants, and most of the students, as well as the rural people, are pursuing basic courses in their respective languages. The government also seeks to expand the initiative and intensify cybersecurity and data protection systems and permit the use of advanced analytics to promote data-based governance.

The road ahead

AI Pragya is a revolutionary move to the future of Uttar Pradesh in terms of preparing the youth of the state. The program is offering new job opportunities and improving efficiency in major industries, including governance, agriculture, education and health, by offering more accessible training and localisation of AI and other digital skills. This initiative is not only reducing the digital divide but also making Uttar Pradesh a digital innovation and growth leader.