SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Ministry of Electronics and IT | IndiaAI Mission
Commemorating National Youth Day on January 12, 2026, the Government of India reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment by spotlighting the National AI Literacy Program and its flagship YUVA AI for All course. Launched originally at the Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Summit in Jaipur, the initiative bridges Swami Vivekananda’s vision of enlightened youth with modern tools for an AI-driven future. The program aims to empower 1 crore (10 million) citizens with foundational AI skills, specifically targeting a goal of mobilizing 10 lakh (1 million) learners within the next year.
The YUVA AI for All course is designed as a free, inclusive entry point requiring no prior technical background. It utilizes the CRAFT formula to teach learners how to communicate effectively with Generative AI tools. Spanning approximately 4.5 hours, the self-paced curriculum is structured into six modular lessons covering AI fundamentals, its underlying technology, practical applications for learning and planning, and AI ethics. To ensure broad accessibility, the course is available in 11 Indian languages and hosted on leading platforms including FutureSkills Prime, iGOT Karmayogi, and DIKSHA.
What is the ‘CRAFT’ formula used in the YUVA AI course? It is a simplified pedagogical tool designed to help first-time learners communicate effectively with Generative AI tools. The CRAFT prompting formula provides a structured way for users to draft high-quality prompts, ensuring they get accurate and useful outcomes for academic or professional tasks. By teaching this alongside the FAST Ethics Framework, the course ensures that even non-technical citizens—including farmers, entrepreneurs, and students—can use AI responsibly and confidently in their daily lives.
Policy Relevance
The program marks a strategic shift toward treating AI literacy as a core life skill, essential for India’s transition into a digitally sovereign and AI-powered nation.
Strategic Impact for India:
Democratizing Knowledge: By providing free, multi-lingual access and government-authorized certification, the initiative directly addresses the digital divide across rural and urban segments.
Workforce Future-Readiness: The curriculum focuses on enhancing productivity for small-scale enterprises and preparing the youth for the responsibilities of an AI-driven labor market.
Responsible AI Adoption: Integration of ethics-focused modules (Module 5) promotes the inclusive and ethical deployment of technology, aligning with the broader objectives of the IndiaAI Mission.
Viksit Bharat Vision: Through coordinated action across Ministries and industry partners, the program serves as a scalable foundation for sustained national competency in emerging technologies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the integration of YUVA AI and the CRAFT prompting framework into formal education impact the long-term vocational prospects of India's demographic dividend?
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