Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces to establish Centre of excellence for AI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Union Budget for 2025-26 on Saturday, unveiling several key initiatives. Among other key announcements, the finance minister announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for education. The government, it said, will invest Rs 500 crore into this initiative, aimed at transforming the education sector by fostering innovation and improving the quality of learning.

This new AI center for education builds on a similar initiative announced in 2023, where the government established three other centres of excellence in AI focused on agriculture, healthcare, and sustainability. These centers aim to advance research and develop practical AI applications in these important sectors.

“I had announced three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for agriculture, health, and sustainable cities in 2023. Now a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education will be set up with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore,” Sitharaman said.

This move comes as edtech startups are increasingly incorporating AI into their offerings. Industry experts suggest that AI is transforming the edtech space by enabling personalized learning experiences, adaptive assessments, and automated content creation, shaping the future of education.

The Finance Minister announced a Nuclear Energy Mission to drive India's transition towards clean energy, with a goal of developing at least 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047. To facilitate greater private sector participation, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be introduced. Additionally, a dedicated research and development initiative for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will be launched with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore. As part of this mission, at least five indigenously developed SMRs are expected to be operational by 2033.


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