IIT Madras launches national AI training programme for government officials
IIT Madras has rolled out a capacity-building programme to help public sector teams deploy and govern AI responsibly. The initiative was launched through the Centre for Responsible AI at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, announced during the Conclave on Strengthening Human Capital for the AI Era on December 19, 2025.
Built with support from Google and the Digital Futures Lab, the programme focuses on practical skills for evaluating, procuring, and managing AI systems inside government institutions. The goal is clear: enable safe, human-centered use of AI across services that people rely on every day.
Why this matters for departments
AI is already influencing education, healthcare, service delivery and digital governance. Without shared standards and trained decision-makers, projects stall or create avoidable risks.
This programme helps officials build a common playbook-what to adopt, what to avoid, and how to prove value while protecting citizens' rights.
What the programme covers
- Foundations of AI technologies and where they fit in public services
- Procurement evaluation: vendor due diligence, performance baselines, and testing
- Risk assessment: bias, privacy, security, misuse, and failure modes
- Governance protocols aligned with India's policy frameworks
- Measurement: outcomes, accountability trails, and audit readiness
How it will run
Participants work through case studies, workshops and practical sessions. Each department assesses its AI readiness, identifies priority use cases, and drafts an implementation roadmap with clear milestones and safeguards.
The format is built to move from concept to action-so teams leave with a plan they can execute, not just slides.
Guiding principles
Professor B. Ravindran, Head of the Wadhwani School, emphasized that responsible AI must be grounded in trust, inclusion and accountability. The programme also serves as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, aiming to position India as a leader in responsible AI across the Global South.
Who should attend
- Secretaries, commissioners, and department heads planning AI initiatives
- Procurement and finance officials evaluating AI proposals
- Policy, legal, and compliance teams building oversight mechanisms
- IT and data teams responsible for implementation and monitoring
What you'll take back to your office
- An assessed AI readiness baseline for your department
- A short-list of high-impact, low-risk use cases
- A procurement checklist and vendor evaluation rubric
- A risk register with mitigation steps and escalation paths
- A draft governance workflow covering approvals, audits and reporting
Next steps for officials
- Nominate a cross-functional team (policy, legal, IT, program owners)
- Bring one active or planned AI use case to pressure-test during the sessions
- Set success metrics upfront: service quality, cost, speed, fairness and safety
For more on the institute and collaborators, see IIT Madras and Google AI.
Additional learning for government teams
If your department needs structured AI upskilling before or after the programme, explore curated options by role and skill at Complete AI Training.
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