New Delhi: The Government is undertaking a series of initiatives to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for MSME Sushri Shobha Karandlaje informed the House that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is implementing the IndiaAI Mission, which was approved on March 7, 2024, with a total financial outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore.
The Minister said the IndiaAI Mission has been designed to democratize the benefits of artificial intelligence across all sections of society, including MSMEs, while strengthening the country’s AI innovation ecosystem and promoting responsible, inclusive, and socially impactful growth.
According to the Minister, the Mission comprises seven key pillars:
- IndiaAI Compute Capacity
- IndiaAI Innovation Centre
- IndiaAI Datasets Platform
- IndiaAI Application Development Initiative
- IndiaAI Future Skills
- IndiaAI Startup Financing
- Safe & Trusted AI
She said these pillars are aimed at building a comprehensive AI ecosystem that supports research, innovation, skill development, startup growth, and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence across various sectors of the economy.
The Minister stated that the Mission seeks to enable MSMEs to leverage AI-driven technologies to improve operational efficiency, increase productivity, foster innovation, and strengthen their competitiveness in domestic as well as international markets.
Shobha Karandlaje also informed the Lok Sabha that the Government periodically evaluates the level of digital technology adoption among MSMEs through assessment studies conducted in collaboration with industry bodies and research institutions.
In addition, she said the Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF) of NITI Aayog serves as an institutional mechanism to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of various government interventions aimed at promoting digital transformation and technological advancement among MSMEs.
The Minister emphasized that these initiatives form part of the Government’s broader strategy to encourage technology-driven growth, improve the digital capabilities of MSMEs, and create a robust innovation ecosystem that contributes to India’s economic development and global competitiveness.