IIT Madras launches capacity-building AI programme for government officials
Indian Institute of Technology Madras has introduced a new capacity-building programme to help government officials build, procure, and scale responsible AI systems. The initiative is led by the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI) and developed in partnership with Google and the Digital Futures Lab.
The programme was announced during the conclave on "Strengthening Human Capital for the AI Era" at IIT-M. The focus is simple: equip public servants with the skills to deploy AI responsibly, at scale, and in alignment with India's policy priorities.
Why this matters for government
AI is already touching education, service delivery, and digital governance. The gap is skills-how to evaluate, buy, and implement systems without creating risk or waste.
This programme targets that gap. It gives administrators and technical teams a common playbook for safe, effective adoption.
What the programme covers
- Foundations: Core AI concepts and real public-sector use cases.
- Procurement: How to assess vendors, structure RFPs, and plan for scale and interoperability.
- Governance and compliance: Aligning projects with India's policy and regulatory frameworks, including responsible AI principles and data protection expectations.
- Risk and accountability: Bias detection, inclusion, audits, monitoring, incident response, and documentation.
- Operational rollout: Change management, workforce enablement, measurement, and continuous improvement.
Key details at a glance
- Host: CeRAI at WSAI, IIT Madras
- Partners: Google and the Digital Futures Lab
- Audience: Indian government officials involved in design, procurement, deployment, or oversight of AI projects
- Emphasis: Responsible AI, inclusion, risk management, and policy-aligned scaling
How this helps your department
- Stronger RFPs and vendor evaluations that cut costly missteps.
- Clear standards for fairness, privacy, and accountability that hold up to audit.
- Faster, safer pilots that scale with less friction across agencies.
- Common language between tech teams, legal, and leadership for better decisions.
- Credible metrics to defend budgets and demonstrate impact.
Inclusion at the core
The programme places inclusion at the center-so AI systems work for every citizen, not just the average case. The conclave emphasized open dialogue and co-created frameworks that fit the realities of the Global South.
What to do next
- Identify priority use cases in your department where AI can improve quality, speed, or reach of services.
- Map current procurement and governance gaps-data readiness, vendor criteria, model oversight, and audit processes.
- Watch for enrolment updates from CeRAI and WSAI and nominate officials across policy, tech, procurement, and legal.
Learn more
- Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI), IIT Madras
- NITI Aayog: Principles for Responsible AI (Policy Paper)
Helpful training resources
If you're building internal capability plans, curated learning can accelerate onboarding for cross-functional teams.
Your membership also unlocks:
