Parliament Question: SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) Programme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566 ANSWERED ON – 09.03.2026 SOAR (SKILLING FOR AI READINESS) PROGRAMME 2566. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY: SHRI P C MOHAN: SHRI P P CHAUDHARY: SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI: SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA: SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE: SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM: SMT. SANJNA JATAV: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) the details of implementation status of the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme, including the number of students and educators trained in Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy along with vocational training centers across the country, State/UT-wise, especially in Karnataka, Bangalore, Rajasthan, particularly in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency; (b) the details of the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned micro-credentials framework developed, including its integration with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), under the National Credit Framework and partnerships with the industry leaders for curriculum development; (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the programme on urban- rural digital inclusion outcomes and student career interest in AI sectors and emerging technology sectors and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the roadmap of the Government to expand SOAR coverage beyond the initial youth trained to include diploma and degree-level AI programmes along with advanced skilling centers in technology hub such as Bangalore? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme including the 04 courses (AI to be Aware, AI to Aspire, AI to Acquire, AI for educators) in phase 1 has beenimplemented as a national initiative to build foundational awareness and readiness in Artificial Intelligence across learners, educators and citizens. The programme is delivered through online, self-paced courses hosted on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), ensuring nationwide accessibility. The State/UT-wise training data has been kept at Annexure-I. The Data pertaining to Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Pali and Jodhpur Districts are kept at Anneuxre-II. The programme is being implemented through NCVET-recognised Awarding Bodies, and does not require physical vocational training centres as it follows a fully digital delivery model. (b) Under Phase I of SOAR, four courses were approved, out of which three were structured as NSQF-aligned micro-credentials under the National Credit Framework. In Phase II, the initiative was expanded significantly with the approval of 50 NSQF- aligned AI and AI-application courses across multiple sectors. Out of these, 35 courses have been designed as micro-credentials with defined credit values, notional hours, and clear progression pathways. The framework has been developed in alignment with the National Credit Framework and implemented through NCVET-recognised Awarding Bodies. Industry partnerships have played a central role in curriculum development, including collaborations with CII, NASSCOM, Microsoft, Max Healthcare, Sector Skill Councils across Beauty & Wellness, Life Sciences, Tourism, Agriculture, Retail, Furniture & Fittings, Handicrafts, and others. Courses such as Foundational Course – Applied Machine Learning and AI (HP), Introduction to Vibe Coding, AI Foundation for Digital Health, AI for Women, AI for Manufacturing, AI Basics for Furniture Makers, and Yuva AI for All represent structured, credit-enabled micro-learning modules aligned to NSQF levels 2 to 5.5. This expansion marks the transition of SOAR from foundational AI literacy to a comprehensive, sector-integrated, NSQF-aligned micro-credential ecosystem supporting AI for jobs, productivity, and inclusive growth. The details of the 35 micro- credentials under SOAR is given at Annexure-III. (c) The Government has undertaken efforts to promote inclusive digital learning and AI awareness across both urban and rural areas. The design of SOAR as an fully online and self-paced learning initiative ensures accessibility across geographies, including underserved and remote regions. Further, the expansion of SOAR includes focus on inclusivity, including courses for the unorganised sector, women, and persons with disability, thereby contributing to bridging the digital divide and enabling wider participation in AI-driven opportunities. (d) The roadmap for SOAR includes progressive expansion from foundational AI literacy to application-oriented and advanced learning pathways. The programme is being scaled to include sector-specific AI courses aligned with jobs, productivity and emerging industry requirements. Additionally, alignment with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) enables integration of SOAR courses with formal education pathways, including higher education and degree-level programmes, thereby supporting vertical mobility and lifelong learning in Artificial Intelligence and related domains.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026. Annexure-I Data as of 23rd Februa SOAR - AI to SOAR – AI SOAR - AI to SOAR - AI for ry 2026 be Aware to Aspire Acquire Educators States/ Enroll Certifi EnrollCertifiEnroll Certifi EnrolleCertifie UT ed ed ed2 ed3 ed4 ed5 d6 d7 Andhra Pradesh 8551 1258 4409 571 2693 408 3041 274 Arunachal Pradesh 114 30 44 10 56 25 20 4 Assam 3766 986 1456 380 1148 326 1017 110 Bihar 7243 602 2525 209 1692 121 2346 165 Chhattisgarh 2357 409 648 78 530 58 536 48 Goa 119 14 42 10 24 4 49 3 Gujarat 3414 343 1241 124 835 67 1329 131 Haryana 3338 440 1144 129 863 100 1171 140 Himachal Pradesh 1187 210 367 47 256 26 394 32 Jharkhand 2163 170 772 51 483 35 773 71 Karnataka 5364 1013 2543 457 1542 218 1539 162 Kerala 2487 543 936 162 747 143 795 80 Madhya Pradesh 6058 674 2099 227 1433 137 2055 142 Maharashtra 16466 1292 4674 525 2970 275 6861 663 Manipur 543 201 316 157 246 155 172 35 Meghalaya 241 48 65 10 45 6 114 20 Mizoram 35 4 10 1 4 1 14 2 Nagaland 55 2 13 0 28 15 27 5 Odisha 3588 250 1260 133 943 106 1041 85 Punjab 2078 277 663 130 458 100 709 80 Rajasthan 5156 646 1954 241 1428 199 1854 174 Sikkim 63 5 18 0 8 0 20 2 Tamil Nadu 4890 754 2374 280 1507 178 2070 267 Telangana 4198 977 1709 208 1036 148 1295 127 Tripura 660 244 328 193 250 138 139 12 Uttarakhand 1423 188 550 56 368 58 448 39 Uttar Pradesh 19993 2556 7366 977 5095 644 6233 538 West Bengal 4781 585 1901 215 1498 182 1817 206 Andaman and Nicobar I 83 9 30 5 24 10 34 8 slands Chandigarh 103 13 44 12 27 3 28 0 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 1280 310 460 88 192 32 899 399 and Daman & Diu The Government of NC 3198 329 1200 122 849 88 1137 93 T of Delhi(Delhi) Jammu & Kashmir 1654 238 502 56 406 52 570 47 Ladakh 28 4 6 3 3 0 6 0 Lakshadweep 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Puducherry 127 19 65 18 38 7 74 14 Total 11681 15643 43736 5885 29725 4065 40627 4178 3ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026. Annexure-II State District Course name Enrolled Certified KARNATAKA Bengaluru SOAR - AI for Educators 128 16 KARNATAKA Bengaluru SOAR - AI to Acquire 96 15 KARNATAKA Bengaluru SOAR - AI to Aspire 152 39 KARNATAKA Bengaluru SOAR - AI to be Aware 284 31 KARNATAKA Bengaluru Rural SOAR - AI for Educators 15 2 KARNATAKA Bengaluru Rural SOAR - AI to Acquire 14 1 KARNATAKA Bengaluru Rural SOAR - AI to Aspire 19 4 KARNATAKA Bengaluru Rural SOAR - AI to be Aware 64 3 RAJASTHAN PALI SOAR - AI for Educators 57 6 RAJASTHAN PALI SOAR - AI to Acquire 22 5 RAJASTHAN PALI SOAR - AI to Aspire 37 4 RAJASTHAN PALI SOAR - AI to be Aware 108 12 RAJASTHAN JODHPUR SOAR - AI for Educators 112 10 RAJASTHAN JODHPUR SOAR - AI to Acquire 62 8 RAJASTHAN JODHPUR SOAR - AI to Aspire 85 6 RAJASTHAN JODHPUR SOAR - AI to be Aware 215 19ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026. Annexure-III S.No Name of Name of Qualification/NOS NSQF Notional Credits Awarding Body Name level Hours Total 1 CII Foundational Course - Applied 4 30 1 Machine Learning and AI (HP) 2 NASSCOM Introduction to Vibe Coding 4 15 0.5 3 Max Healthcare AI Foundation for Digital Health 3 15 0.5 4 Max Healthcare Applied Artificial Intelligence for 5.5 30 1 Healthcare Systems 5 Beauty & AI-Based Skin Analysis 3 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 6 Beauty & AI Virtual Beauty Try-On 2.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 7 Beauty & AI Personalized Beauty Product 3 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Recommendation Skill Council 8 Beauty & AI-Based Scalp Analysis 3 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 9 Beauty & AI Virtual Haircut and Beard Try- 2.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector On Skill Council 10 Beauty & AI-Based Semi-Permanent 3.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Makeup Skill Council 11 Beauty & AI-Supported Laser Services 3.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 12 Beauty & AI-Enabled Yoga Practice 3.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 13 Beauty & AI for Wellness Assessment 3.5 3 0.1 Wellness Sector Skill Council 14 Microsoft AI for Women 4 30 1 15 Microsoft AI for Healthcare 4 30 1 16 Microsoft AI for Manufacturing 4 30 1 17 Microsoft AI for Logistics 4 30 1 18 Microsoft AI for Construction 4 30 1 19 Microsoft AI for Fashion 4 30 120 Microsoft AI for Automobiles 4 30 1 21 Microsoft AI for Electronics 4 30 1 22 Microsoft Unlocking AI for Everyone 2 0.75 0.02 23 Jindal Steel Ltd. Gen AI Readiness Program 4 30 1 24 Life Sciences AI in Pharma: Transforming Life 5 4.5 0.15 SSC Sciences Through Technology 25 Furniture & AI Basics for Furniture Makers 3 7.5 0.25 Fitting SSC 26 Tourism SSC Smart Field Facilitator: AI Vision 4 3 0.1 & Live Interpretation for Walk Tours & Nature Guides 27 Tourism SSC AI-Smart Waste Controller: 4 6 0.2 Operating Food-Waste AI in Commercial Kitchens 28 Handicraft SSC AI for Heritage Craft Storytelling 3 4.5 0.15 and Documentation 29 Handicraft SSC AI as Cultural Translator for 3 4.5 0.15 Global Markets 30 NIELIT Yuva AI for ALL 2 4.5 0.15 31 Agriculture SSC Satellite Data Analysis for Crop 4.5 37.5 1.25 Managment 32 RetaiL SSC Fundamental of AI in Retail 4 30 1 33 NASSCOM Technology and Business 4 30 1 Fundamentals 34 NASSCOM Basic Gen AI Literacy/GenAI 101 3 7.5 0.25 35 SDN- Wadhwani Introduction to Artificial 3.5 7.5 0.25 Foundation Intelligence (AI) *****