**Policy Summary: NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) Partnership for Vernacular Innovation**
On August 7, 2025, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), formalized a strategic partnership through a Statement of Intent (SoI) in New Delhi. The collaboration aims to democratize access to innovation by breaking down language barriers and promoting language inclusivity within India's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Key aspects of the partnership include:
* **Integration of Language Technology:** Embedding language technology into AIM's nationwide innovation programs.
* **Content Translation:** Translating content developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy into multiple Indian languages, leveraging Bhashini's tools, as part of the existing collaboration under the Joint Letter of Intent between AIM, NITI Aayog, and WIPO.
* **Gamification Exploration:** Exploring the potential for gamifying learning content using Bhashini platforms.
* **Resource Access:** Providing startups and stakeholders within the AIM ecosystem with access to relevant tools and sandbox environments to facilitate multilingual product development.
* **Grassroots Support:** Jointly undertaking initiatives to support grassroots innovators by utilizing Bhashini's language tools and technologies.
* **Ecosystem Integration:** Exploring the integration of Bhashini's platforms within the existing AIM ecosystem, including Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), and new Language Inclusive Program for Innovation (LIPI) centers, to enhance skilling and capacity-building programs at the grassroots level.
Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, and Amitabh Nag, CEO of Digital India Bhashini Division, highlighted the commitment to fostering inclusive innovation and empowering Indian innovators, irrespective of linguistic background, with the necessary tools for participation in the digital and entrepreneurial revolution. The partnership reflects a shared objective to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of innovation resources, contributing to India's broader digital empowerment goals.
Key Entities Referenced
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India.
Atal Innovation Mission: A flagship initiative by NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across India.
Bhashini: The Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), focused on language technology.
Digital India Bhashini Division: A division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) responsible for the Bhashini project.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy.
New Delhi: The capital city of India, where the Statement of Intent (SoI) was signed.
World Intellectual Property Organization: A global organization dedicated to intellectual property rights.
Atal Incubation Centres: Centres established under the Atal Innovation Mission to promote and support startups.
NITI Aayog
Atal Innovation Mission and Bhashini sign Statement
of Intent to drive vernacular innovation across
country
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 5:46PM by PIB Delhi
In a view to democratize access to innovation by breaking language barriers, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM),
NITI Aayog, and Bhashini, the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) today in New Delhi. This strategic
partnership aims to foster vernacular innovation and promote language inclusivity across India’s rapidly
evolving innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The SoI was formalized during a meeting between the leadership from both sides, including Deepak Bagla,
Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, and Amitabh Nag, Chief Executive Officer of Digital India
Bhashini Division. The discussion focused on collaborative strategies to embed language technology into
AIM’s nationwide innovation programs.
As a first step, the content developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy will
be translated into multiple Indian languages using Bhashini’s tools, as part of the ongoing collaboration under
the Joint Letter of Intent signed between AIM, NITI Aayog, and WIPO. Opportunities for future gamification
of learning content using Bhashini platforms may also be explored. Startups and other stakeholders in the
AIM ecosystem will be provided access to relevant tools and sandbox environments to support multilingual
product development
Through this collaboration, AIM and Bhashini also intend to jointly undertake multiple initiatives to support
grassroot Innovators leveraging Bhashini’s language tools and technologies. Existing AIM ecosystem
including Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) and new
Language Inclusive Program for Innovation (LIPI) centres will also explore the use of Bhashini’s platforms
for skilling and capacity-building programmes at the grassroots level.
Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, stated, “This
collaboration supports our broader goal of fostering inclusive innovation. By integrating language
technologies with AIM’s initiatives, we are taking a practical step toward ensuring accessibility and
opportunity for innovators across India, regardless of language.”
Sharing his thoughts Amitabh Nag, CEO, Digital India Bhashini Division, said, “Language should never be a
barrier to innovation. Through this collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission, we aim to empower every
Indian innovator-regardless of linguistic background with the tools they need to participate fully in the digital
and entrepreneurial revolution. Bhashini’s language technologies will help bridge communication gaps and
open new avenues for inclusive growth across the country.
The partnership reflects a joint commitment to making innovation resources more accessible and inclusive,
thereby contributing to India’s broader digital empowerment goals.***
MJPS/SR
(Release ID: 2153704)