Govt to Establish AI Centre of Excellence for Healthcare in New Delhi

Reportedly, the government has allocated INR 990 Cr for the initiative over FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.

The government has announced the establishment of three Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centres of Excellence (CoE) focused on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities in New Delhi.

These centers will drive interdisciplinary research, develop advanced applications, and offer scalable solutions to address critical challenges in these sectors.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while making the announcement, said, "The three CoEs in AI—focused on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities—will democratise AI innovations and enhance healthcare delivery, strengthen food security, and tackle urban challenges."

Pradhan emphasized that the CoEs, led by India's top academic institutions, will fortify the country's AI capabilities and contribute to the global AI ecosystem.

"These centres will emerge as hubs of global public good and solution-providers for the world. They mark a significant step in positioning Bharat as a key player in the international AI landscape," he added.

The CoEs will be managed in partnership with leading educational institutions and industry players.

The healthcare CoE will be led by IIT-Delhi and AIIMS, the agriculture CoE by IIT Ropar, and the sustainable cities CoE by IIT Kanpur.

Under the "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India" vision, the CoEs are part of the 2023-24 Budget's Para 60 announcement.

Reportedly, the government has allocated INR 990 Cr for the initiative over FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.

To guide the implementation, an Apex Committee, co-chaired by Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, has been formed.

Higher Education Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy highlighted that these CoEs will serve not just institutions but the entire nation, stressing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

He noted the progress in addressing common challenges through competitive-based initiatives developed by educational institutions.

Dr Vembu added that the CoEs will support holistic growth, particularly in healthcare and urban management, while nurturing talent and generating new opportunities for India's workforce over the next two decades.

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