NE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BUREAU
CHENNAI, DEC 20
In a major step towards strengthening India’s public-sector readiness for artificial intelligence, the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI) at IIT Madras, through its Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI), has announced the launch of a capacity-building programme to train Indian government officials in responsible AI systems.
@iitmadras is advancing India’s public sector preparedness for the AI era through a new capacity-building initiative for Government officials. The programme led by the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI), and… pic.twitter.com/v194D2FcTg
— IIT Madras (@iitmadras) December 19, 2025
Developed in partnership with Google and the Digital Futures Lab (DFL)—an independent interdisciplinary research studio—the programme was unveiled at the ‘Conclave on Strengthening Human Capital for the AI Era’, held at IIT Madras on December 19, 2025.
- WSAI–CeRAI Launches Capacity-Building Programme for Public Sector AI Adoption
- Partnership with Google and Digital Futures Lab Announced at National Conclave
- Focus on Trust, Inclusion and Policy-Aligned AI Deployment
- Initiative to Strengthen India’s Leadership in Responsible AI Across the Global South
Equipping Government with Responsible AI Skills
The initiative is designed to equip government officials with technical, operational and governance capabilities required to build, procure, evaluate and scale AI systems responsibly within public institutions. As AI increasingly shapes education, service delivery, policymaking and digital governance, the programme addresses the urgent need for AI literacy, ethical frameworks and informed decision-making in government.
The curriculum will enable participants to understand foundational AI technologies, assess real-world applications, and evaluate AI solutions for public procurement. It will also focus on risk identification, system limitations, governance requirements and alignment with India’s policy and regulatory frameworks.
Trust, Inclusion and Global South Context
Emphasising the importance of responsible deployment, Prof. B. Ravindran, Head, WSAI, IIT Madras, said,
“As AI systems increasingly influence decision-making, it is important that their development and deployment are rooted in trust and inclusion. Through this Conclave, we hope to create a shared platform for open dialogue on the responsible use of AI, with a particular focus on strengthening human capital through AI for education and education about AI. By bringing diverse stakeholders under one roof, our goal is to co-create policy-relevant, context-aware frameworks that reflect the lived realities of the Global South.”
Google Backs India’s Trusted Digital Future
Speaking on the partnership, Preeti Lobana, Country Manager, Google India, said,
“A thriving digital India can only be built on a foundation of trust. As AI becomes an intrinsic part of our daily lives, protecting India’s digital future becomes a collective responsibility. This programme is about more than technology adoption—it is about empowering professionals across the public and private sectors to deploy AI responsibly, with safety and fairness at the core of India’s digital transformation.”
Building Government Capacity as a Strategic Lever
Highlighting the strategic importance of government capacity-building, Dr. Urvashi Aneja, Founder and Director, Digital Futures Lab, noted,
“Strengthening capacity within government is perhaps the most important lever needed for effective and responsible use of AI in India. This initiative will also lay the foundation for India’s leadership in responsible AI across the Global South, and we hope to expand it to other countries in the region.”
Hands-On Learning and AI Readiness Assessment
Through case studies, workshops and hands-on sessions, participating officials will assess their departments’ current AI readiness and identify clear pathways to adopt or improve AI-driven tools tailored to their functional domains. The programme aims to translate AI awareness into actionable governance outcomes.
Aligned with India AI Impact Summit 2026
The conclave serves as a pre-summit event to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, convening researchers, policymakers, academics, industry leaders, civil society organisations and representatives from underrepresented regions. It seeks to advance AI literacy, workforce readiness and national skilling priorities, while ensuring the adoption of safe, trusted and human-centric AI systems across governance and education.
