National AI Skilling Initiative 2026: 15,000 Free AI Scholarships by MIB, Google and YouTube, How to Enroll

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, has launched a national AI skilling programme in partnership with Google, YouTube, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT). The initiative offers 15,000 scholarships for free AI training targeted at students, content creators, media professionals, and developers working in creative and digital fields.

Announced on 25 March 2026 by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, this programme is specifically focused on building AI capabilities in India’s creative economy, covering areas such as animation, visual effects (VFX), gaming, comics (AVGC), media technology, and digital storytelling. It is not a generic AI course. It is a structured, two-phase skilling programme designed by IICT in collaboration with Google and YouTube, combining Google Career Certificates with hands-on creative AI training.

The enrollment portal is already live at aiskillhouse.iict.org. On completion, participants receive a joint certificate from Google, YouTube, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.

This article covers every verified detail about the programme, including what it actually is, who runs it, what the two phases involve, what tools you will learn, who can apply, and how enrollment works.

What This Programme Actually Is (Correcting Widespread Misinformation)

Several websites have published articles calling this the “Free AI Scholarship 2026” or “Government AI Scholarship Programme,” with fabricated application processes and made-up course details. Before anything else, here is what is factually verified.

The official name is the National AI Skilling Initiative. It is also branded as the “AI Skills House x MIB x IICT Programme” on the enrollment portal. It is not called the “Free AI Scholarship 2026” anywhere in official communications.

The programme is not run directly by the government. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is the policy anchor. The actual implementation, including programme design, outreach, curation, and execution, is handled by IICT (Indian Institute of Creative Technologies). Google and YouTube are curriculum and technology partners who co-developed the learning content.

This is not a cash scholarship. No money is paid to participants. The “scholarship” refers to free access to Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s Generative AI learning paths, which normally cost money. The 15,000 scholarships mean 15,000 people get these courses for free.

The programme builds on an earlier initiative called “Create with AI,” which was a joint effort between IICT and YouTube announced the previous year. The current programme expands that into a formal national initiative with government backing.

Who Is Behind This Programme

Four entities are involved, each with a distinct role.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) provides the policy framework and institutional backing. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally announced the initiative and has positioned it as part of the government’s broader “Orange Economy” vision for strengthening India’s creative industries.

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) is the implementation partner. IICT manages the nationwide rollout, overseeing programme design, outreach, and execution. IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar described the initiative as being structured to address a clear national requirement: preparing creative professionals for real-world application of AI across content creation, production, and distribution.

Google provides the foundational AI training infrastructure through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s Generative AI learning paths. Google Vice President for Marketing India, Shekar Khosla, confirmed Google’s commitment to providing creative professionals with specialized AI skills through the partnership.

YouTube co-curates the advanced Phase 2 training, contributing expertise on platform best practices, storytelling techniques, and creator-focused AI tools. YouTube India Managing Director Gunjan Soni stated that the programme aims to help creators and professionals become fluent in the tools of tomorrow and use AI to tell richer stories.

Programme Structure: Two Phases

The programme is delivered in two structured phases, designed to take participants from foundational AI knowledge to deep, production-ready specialization.

Phase 1: Foundational Skills

This phase focuses on building AI literacy at scale. All 15,000 scholarship recipients participate in this phase. The training includes Google Career Certificates, which are beginner-friendly, industry-recognized certifications designed to build job-ready AI and digital skills through a structured learning path. It also includes Google Cloud’s Generative AI learning paths, which cover foundational AI concepts and responsible AI practices.

The Google Career Certificates programme offers professional training designed by Google and provides the opportunity to connect with top employers. This is the same certification programme that Google offers commercially, so the scholarship effectively waives the course fee.

An important practical detail from the enrollment portal: Phase 1 must be completed within 14 days from your start date. This is a tight timeline and suggests the foundational content is intensive but focused, not a months-long programme.

On completing Phase 1, participants earn a foundation certification recognized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.

Phase 2: Specialization

Participants who successfully complete Phase 1 advance to Phase 2, which is the hands-on, project-based training component. This phase is co-curated by IICT and YouTube and delivered through a hybrid model (combining online and in-person sessions) across key creative hubs in India.

Phase 2 covers the art of storytelling with AI, advanced training with Google’s AI tools (including tools like Veo, AI Studio, and Gemini), comprehensive modules on YouTube best practices, and practical application of AI in creative workflows such as video creation, content production, and digital media.

This phase is where the programme differentiates itself from generic AI courses. The curriculum is specifically designed for creative professionals, not engineers or data scientists. The focus is on how AI tools can be applied in media production, animation, gaming, content creation, and digital storytelling.

What You Get on Completion

Upon completing both phases, participants receive a Certificate of Completion jointly issued by Google, YouTube, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies. This is a four-way certification, which is significant for credibility, carrying both government and industry recognition.

The programme is also designed to connect participants with employment opportunities. Based on available information, completed scholars may have access to placement support and industry connections, though the specific details of post-completion support are expected to be elaborated as the programme rolls out.

Who Can Apply

The programme targets high-potential talent across creative and digital fields. Based on the official announcements and the enrollment portal, the following groups are eligible.

Content creators, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, and creative industry professionals who want to integrate AI into their creative workflows. Developers and IT professionals within media and technology industries who want to build AI-powered creative and production-ready solutions. College students pursuing media, design, computer science, or related fields. Working professionals in content creation, animation, or digital marketing. Independent creators and developers looking to upgrade their skills with AI tools.

No specific age limit, degree requirement, or entrance exam has been mentioned in any official communication. The programme is described as being designed for both beginners with no prior AI knowledge and experienced professionals looking to advance their technical skills in AI tools for the creative space.

How to Enroll

The enrollment portal is live at aiskillhouse.iict.org. The portal is branded as “AI Skills House” and is hosted by IICT.

On the portal, you can apply for the scholarship and begin the Phase 1 foundational training. The enrollment process is online. No detailed application deadline has been publicly announced as of the time of writing, but given that the programme was announced on 25 March 2026 and the portal is already active, interested candidates should enroll promptly.

Some reports indicate that the first batch of the broader AI skilling initiative (which includes a parallel MeitY track) is expected to begin in June 2026. The MIB-IICT media track may follow a similar or overlapping timeline.

Broader Context: Why This Programme Exists

The National AI Skilling Initiative is part of three initiatives announced simultaneously by Minister Vaishnaw on 25 March 2026. The other two are MyWAVES (a platform for creators) and a plan to integrate built-in satellite tuners with advanced electronic programme guides in television sets for easier access to DD Free Dish.

All three initiatives connect to the government’s “Orange Economy” vision, which was emphasized in the 2026 Union Budget. The Orange Economy refers to the economic ecosystem built around creative industries, including media, entertainment, animation, gaming, and digital content. India already has a strong talent base in these sectors, but the government’s assessment is that advanced AI skills are needed to maintain and extend that competitive edge globally.

The AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics) sector has been a specific policy focus for the government, with a dedicated AVGC task force recommending measures to build a skilled workforce. This AI skilling initiative is one concrete implementation of those recommendations.

What This Programme Is Not

To prevent confusion, here are things this programme does not involve.

It is not a cash scholarship. No stipend or financial payment is made to participants. The “scholarship” means free access to paid training courses.

It is not a degree or diploma programme. It is a certification-based skilling initiative.

It is not limited to engineering or computer science students. The explicit focus is on creative professionals, storytellers, media workers, and content creators.

It is not the same as the MeitY National AI Olympiad programme. A separate, parallel initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) involves an AI Olympiad and its own skilling track. The two programmes are complementary but distinct. The MIB-IICT initiative specifically targets the creative and media sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this programme really free?

Yes. The 15,000 scholarships cover the cost of Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s Generative AI learning paths. No fee is charged to participants. However, no cash stipend is provided either.

Do I need prior AI knowledge?

No. The programme is designed to be accessible to beginners. Phase 1 starts with foundational AI literacy.

Is there an age limit?

No specific age limit has been mentioned in any official announcement or on the enrollment portal.

Is this programme only for YouTube creators?

No. While YouTube is a partner and Phase 2 includes YouTube best practices, the programme is open to students, media professionals, developers, designers, filmmakers, and anyone in the creative sector. YouTube creation is one of many application areas covered.

Where do I apply?

The enrollment portal is at aiskillhouse.iict.org. It is the official platform hosted by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.

What certificate will I get?

A joint Certificate of Completion from Google, YouTube, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.

How long does the programme take?

Phase 1 must be completed within 14 days from the start date. Phase 2 duration has not been publicly specified but involves hands-on project-based training delivered through a hybrid model.

Can I join Phase 2 directly?

No. Phase 2 is only accessible after successful completion of Phase 1.

Official Resources

The enrollment portal is at aiskillhouse.iict.org. The official announcement can be found on the MIB press release dated 23 March 2026. The programme was also announced by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 25 March 2026. For updates, follow the official channels of IICT and MIB. The DST/MIB official websites (dst.gov.in and mib.gov.in) carry the announcement details.