IGNOU and IIT Bombay launch AI-powered Project Udaan to bring multilingual education to millions

IGNOU Partners with IIT Bombay to Bring AI-Powered Education in Indian Languages

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to launch Project Udaan, an AI-driven platform that translates higher education content into multiple Indian languages. This collaboration seeks to make academic resources more accessible to students across linguistic backgrounds.

Key Highlights

• IGNOU and IIT Bombay join forces for AI-based Project Udaan
• AI technology to translate study materials into regional Indian languages
• Supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s focus on multilingual and digital education

The partnership was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at IGNOU's headquarters. Project Udaan leverages artificial intelligence to translate complex academic texts without losing the original formatting. Using a combination of Optical Character Recognition (OCR), domain-specific glossaries, and human input, the platform ensures translations maintain high accuracy and readability.

Professor Ganesh Ramakrishnan of IIT Bombay, who leads the initiative, emphasizes that Project Udaan addresses the linguistic diversity of India’s learners. The goal is to break down language barriers that often limit access to quality higher education for many students.

Expanding Access Through Regional Languages

IGNOU’s extensive collection of study materials will be translated into regional languages, making education more inclusive for students from rural areas and those less comfortable with English. This effort aligns with national programs like Digital India and Bharat Bhasha, which encourage the use of Indian languages in technology and digital content.

The collaboration combines IGNOU’s wide reach as one of the world’s largest open universities with IIT Bombay’s expertise in AI and language processing. Together, they aim to provide millions of students with better access to educational resources in their native languages.

Senior academic leaders from both institutions described Project Udaan as a practical step toward educational equality and empowerment. The initiative is expected to significantly improve learning outcomes for students in remote and regional areas by delivering accurate, readable translations of textbooks and learning modules.

For educators and professionals interested in AI’s role in education, Project Udaan offers an example of how technology can support multilingual learning environments. For those looking to explore AI applications further, resources like Complete AI Training’s latest courses provide valuable insights into AI tools and techniques.