State-level programme aims to build early AI exposure for students in classes VI–XII
The Tripura government on Thursday launched AI Utsav – Skill Competition 2026, a state-level initiative to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning to government school students and prepare them with foundational digital skills, officials said. The scheme will use the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform to provide free AI courses and award national certificates on successful completion.
Coverage and eligibility
- Target beneficiaries: students of classes VI to XII enrolled in government schools across the state.
- Number of schools proposed to be covered: around 1,920.
- Training delivery: free online courses via the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), the national digital skilling platform under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
Tripura’s Skill Development Director, Pradeep Krishnaraj, said the scheme is intended to give students early exposure to emerging technology and build “digital confidence” while providing formal recognition of learning through nationally recognised certificates downloadable from SIDH.
“Around 1,920 government schools having classes VI to XII are proposed to be covered under the initiative,” the director said.
How the initiative is structured and supported
The AI Utsav forms part of a broader state framework to align with the world skills ecosystem and to identify and prepare talented youth for national and international skills competitions. The state has already developed a comprehensive framework for the India Skills Competition.
Under this framework, Tripura has identified 26 skill areas that will be included in training and talent identification. The announcement specifically cites several of these areas, including:
- Graphic design technology
- Software application development
- Mobile applications development
- Web technologies
- Automobile technologies
- Cloud computing
- Cyber security
- Industry 4.0
- Electronics and electrical installations
- Digital construction
- ICT network infrastructure
- Mechanical engineering CAD
The state has designated several institutes to provide end-to-end support for the skill drive, including:
| Designated Institute | Role (as described) |
|---|---|
| National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala | End-to-end support |
| Tripura Institute of Technology (TIT) | End-to-end support |
| MSME Tool Room & Training Centre | End-to-end support |
| National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), Agartala | End-to-end support |
What this means for students and schools
Students who complete the courses will be able to download a national certificate from SIDH. Officials say the aims are to:
- Encourage early understanding of emerging technologies among schoolchildren;
- Foster digital confidence and foundational AI literacy;
- Provide formal recognition that may help students in future skill contests or vocational pathways.
By linking school-level training to the India Skills Competition framework, the state intends to create a pipeline for identifying and training youth in technical and vocational disciplines aligned with national and global skills standards.
Next steps and implementation questions
Officials have said the scheme will be implemented across all eight districts of Tripura. Key implementation elements that will determine uptake include internet and device access for students, teacher training for facilitation, and timetabling within school calendars. The announcement did not specify timelines for course rollout or the schedule for district-level skill contests under AI Utsav.
Education stakeholders and parents will be watching for details on enrolment procedures, schedules, and whether the state will provide devices or internet support for students lacking connectivity to access SIDH courses.
The state government’s move reflects a growing push by education departments across India to introduce digital and AI literacy at earlier stages of schooling while linking skilling initiatives to national platforms and recognised certification.
