Gujarat proposes ₹20 crore AI mission to train 5 lakh higher education students

The Gujarat government has proposed a ₹20 crore artificial intelligence (AI) training initiative to equip five lakh higher education students with essential AI skills. The proposed Gujarat AI for Every Student Mission 2026–27 aims to integrate AI literacy into higher education and prepare students for emerging career opportunities.

According to the draft policy prepared by the state’s Higher Education Department, the programme will provide training in AI fundamentals, generative AI tools, discipline-specific applications and advanced, employment-oriented skills. The proposal is awaiting the necessary administrative and financial approvals.

Three-Tier Training Framework

The proposed mission will operate through three training levels. The first, AI Foundation for Every Student, will provide eight hours of basic AI training to five lakh students, covering AI applications, prompt writing and productivity tools.

The second level, AI for Domain Applications, will offer 25 hours of specialised training to one lakh students across disciplines, including engineering, commerce, humanities, science, agriculture, healthcare, education and law.

The third level, Advanced AI Skills and Employability, will target 20,000 students through 50 hours of project-based learning. Training will include practical exercises, industry case studies, capstone projects and assessments.

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Faculty Training and Implementation

The government also proposes training 5,000 faculty members as AI Master Trainers within 12 months. Courses will be available in English and Gujarati, with an emphasis on responsible AI use, data protection and verification of AI-generated information.

A State Mission Unit, university-level nodal officers and college coordinators are proposed to oversee implementation. A digital dashboard will track enrolment, participation and certification.

The initiative seeks to expand AI literacy across Gujarat’s higher education institutions and strengthen students’ employability in an increasingly technology-driven economy. Its implementation will depend on formal government approval.