India Launches Free National AI Skilling Programme for Creative Professionals

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), has launched a landmark national AI skilling initiative for India's creative sector. Developed in partnership with Google and YouTube and delivered through the AI Skills House platform, the programme is providing 15,000 fully funded scholarships to equip emerging talent in media, entertainment, animation, gaming, and digital storytelling with industry-relevant Generative AI skills.

Enrolment is currently open. This is a selective, impact-focused skilling pathway, tailored specifically for high-potential talent, and represents a significant institutional step towards integrating AI into mainstream content creation and production practices in India.

Programme Structure

The programme follows a structured two-phase approach designed to ensure both foundational AI understanding and practical, applied expertise.

Phase 1 — Foundation (Online)  |  Duration: ~33 Hours

This phase is designed to build core AI literacy at scale. All 15,000 scholarship holders gain access to Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud's Gen AI Learning Paths — professional training developed by Google that also connects learners with top employers. The curriculum covers:

•       Generative AI fundamentals — key applications, model types, and practical use cases

•       AI Essentials — using Generative AI to boost productivity, develop ideas & content, and streamline work tasks

•       Prompting Essentials — mastering a 5-step framework for writing effective prompts to generate content, analyse data, and solve problems

•       Introduction to Generative AI — understanding of GenAI concepts and responsible AI practices

•       Gen AI Leader Path — developing the ability to communicate AI capabilities and articulate its value within organisations

Upon successful completion of Phase 1, learners receive their first certificate and unlock exclusive access to Phase 2.

Phase 2 — Specialisation (Hybrid)  |  Duration: ~4 Hours

Participants who complete Phase 1 progress to advanced, project-based training focused on real-world creative and technical applications. Delivered through a hybrid model, this phase is co-developed by IICT and YouTube and incorporates platform best practices to enhance content reach and engagement. It covers:

•       Hands-on storytelling and creative production using AI tools

•       Google Developers Codelabs — guided training from concept to production-ready applications

•       Tools & platforms: Vibe Coding, Antigravity, AI Studio, Vertex AI, Android, Google Compute Engine, and Google APIs

•       YouTube creator best practices for content reach and audience engagement

•       AI-powered creative workflows and production automation

Tools & Platforms Covered

Participants gain hands-on exposure to an industry-leading suite of AI tools and platforms throughout the programme:

Curriculum Modules

The programme encompasses the following key learning modules, sequenced to take participants from foundational knowledge to applied expertise:

•       Generative AI Fundamentals — Understanding GenAI models, applications, and real-world use cases

•       AI Essentials (Google Career Certificate) — Productivity, content development, and decision-making with AI

•       Prompting Essentials (Google Career Certificate) — Five-step framework for effective prompt engineering

•       Introduction to Generative AI (Google Cloud Learning Path) — Core concepts, model types, responsible AI

•       Gen AI Leader Path — Communicating AI value and driving organisational adoption

•       Creative AI Workflows — AI-assisted storytelling, animation, and media production

•       Workflow Automation & Decision-Making — Using AI to streamline everyday work tasks

•       Responsible & Ethical AI Usage — Scalable, safe, and accountable AI practices

•       Google Developers Codelabs — From concept to production: hands-on coding with AI platforms

•       YouTube Best Practices — Content reach, engagement strategies, and creator platform tools

Fees, Eligibility & Certification

The programme is entirely FREE of charge. All 15,000 seats are scholarship-funded by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and IICT in collaboration with Google and YouTube. There is no tuition fee, registration fee, or hidden cost for selected participants.

The programme is designed for aspiring and practising professionals across media, entertainment, animation, gaming, and digital storytelling. It is beginner-friendly — no prior AI knowledge is required to enrol for Phase 1.

Upon successful completion of each phase, participants receive:

•       Phase 1 Certificate: Issued by AI Skills House, endorsed by MIB, IICT, Google, and YouTube

•       Phase 2 Certificate: Advanced specialisation certificate for project-based track completion

•       Google Career Certificates: Industry-recognised credentials that connect learners with leading employers

•       Google Cloud Gen AI Learning Path credentials

Implementation Partners

IICT (Indian Institute of Creative Technologies) is the designated implementation partner leading the nationwide rollout, covering curriculum development, candidate outreach, and programme execution. The key partners are:

•       Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) — Government of India — Programme authority and scholarship provider

•       Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) — Lead implementation, curriculum design, and execution

•       Google & Google Cloud — Technology partner providing AI tools, cloud platforms, and Career Certificates

•       YouTube — Content platform partner, co-developing the specialisation curriculum

•       AI Skills House — Learning platform hosting structured AI learning tracks and programme delivery

Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, stated that this initiative is structured to address a clear national requirement — preparing creative professionals for practical, real-world application of AI across content creation, production, and distribution.

How to Apply

Enrolment for the AI Skills House National AI Skilling Programme is currently open. Seats are limited to 15,000 participants on a selective basis.

•       Visit the AI Skills House platform to access the enrolment link

•       Scan the QR code available in the official programme brochure or the PIB press release

•       Complete the application form — no prior AI experience is necessary for Phase 1

•       Shortlisted candidates will receive scholarship confirmation and onboarding instructions

For detailed programme information, refer to the official PIB press release issued on May 4, 2026, or access the programme brochure provided by IICT.

Significance & National Context

This initiative is aligned with the Government of India's broader vision of strengthening India's creative economy and digital landscape. By combining technical AI proficiency with creative application, the programme aims to build a skilled talent pool capable of driving innovation across the country's rapidly evolving media and entertainment industries.

India's creative sector — spanning film, animation, gaming, digital content, and advertising — is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by Generative AI. This programme represents a proactive, government-backed response to ensure Indian creators and technologists are not left behind in the global AI revolution, but are instead equipped to lead it.

The integration of Google's industry-recognised career credentials, YouTube's creator expertise, and IICT's domain knowledge in creative technologies makes this one of the most comprehensively structured free AI skilling programmes launched in India to date.