Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches “Adi Vaani” - India’s First AI Translator for Tribal Languages
SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institution: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the beta version of Adi Vaani, India’s first AI-powered translator for tribal languages. Available on Android (with iOS coming soon) and a dedicated web platform, it aims to bridge communication gaps between tribal and non-tribal communities while preserving endangered languages. Developed under the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh initiative, Adi Vaani supports real-time translation of text and speech between Hindi/English and tribal languages such as Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi, with more like Kui and Garo in development.
Developed through a consortium led by IIT Delhi with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Naya Raipur in collaboration with Tribal Research Institutes, the tool uses AI models like NLLB and IndicTrans2 and features OCR, bilingual dictionaries, speech interfaces, folklore digitization, and accessibility tools for health advisories and government schemes.
As a foundational effort to digitally preserve tribal languages, Adi Vaani supports inclusive education, healthcare communication, and cultural equity, reinforcing India’s multilingual heritage and digital inclusion goals.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can AI-driven language tools like Adi Vaani be scaled sustainably to support inclusive education, public service access, and cultural resilience across India’s linguistic diversity?
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https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2162846