Rs 474-cr AI Mission to future-proof Haryana workforce

In a landmark move to position the state as a global technology hub, CM Nayab Singh Saini presented the budget featuring a total outlay of Rs 2,23,658.17 crore. This 10.28% increase over the previous year is anchored by the ambitious Haryana AI Mission, a strategic initiative designed to integrate Artificial Intelligence into governance and future-proof the state’s workforce. With a dedicated allocation of Rs 474 crore, the mission aims to train one lakh young people in advanced AI skills, targeting high-income employment opportunities in the global digital economy.

Infrastructure and innovation form the backbone of this tech-forward agenda, starting with the establishment of an autonomous, AI-driven Digital College as a pilot project. Should this venture succeed, the state plans to scale the model with 10 additional institutions. To foster a local ecosystem of research and development, specialised AI hubs are being developed in the key urban centres of Gurugram and Panchkula. These hubs will serve as the nerve centres for the state's burgeoning tech industry and startup community.

To bridge the gap between innovation and administration, the state will host a high-stakes AI Innovation Challenge in May. The competition is designed to identify top-tier talent and startups whose AI models will be integrated into government departments, starting November 1. By embedding AI into public services, Haryana aims to drastically improve administrative efficiency and service delivery, ensuring that the state remains at the forefront of the technological revolution in the country.

What's on the cards

*1 lakh young people to be trained in advanced AI skills

*AI-driven Digital College to be established as pilot project

*State to host high-stakes AI Innovation Challenge in May

*AI models to be integrated into government departments from November 1