CHENNAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), through its Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI), on Friday announced the launch of a new capacity-building programme aimed at training Indian government officials in the design, procurement and large-scale deployment of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Developed in partnership with Google and the Digital Futures Lab (DFL), an independent interdisciplinary research studio, the initiative was unveiled during the Conclave on Strengthening Human Capital for the AI Era, held at the IIT-M campus here.

The programme seeks to equip government officials with critical technical, operational and governance capabilities required for the effective and ethical use of AI in public institutions. With AI increasingly shaping domains such as education, service delivery and digital governance, the initiative addresses the urgent need for AI literacy, informed decision-making and robust oversight frameworks within the public sector.

Highlighting the significance of responsible AI adoption, B Ravindran, Head of WSAI, IIT-M, said that as AI systems begin to influence decision-making at scale, trust, inclusion and accountability must form the bedrock of their development and deployment. He noted that the conclave aims to foster open dialogue among diverse stakeholders and co-create policy-relevant, context-aware frameworks reflecting the realities of the Global South.

Preeti Lobana, Country Manager, Google India, said that a thriving digital India must be built on trust. She added that the programme goes beyond technology adoption by empowering professionals across the public and private sectors to embed safety, fairness and accountability at the core of India’s digital transformation.

Urvashi Aneja, Founder and Director of the Digital Futures Lab, described capacity-building within government as a critical lever for India’s leadership in responsible AI, particularly across the Global South.

The curriculum will cover foundational AI concepts, procurement evaluation, risk assessment and governance requirements, supported by case studies, workshops and hands-on sessions. The conclave also served as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, reinforcing national skilling priorities and human-centred AI adoption.