NCW launches Yashoda AI for AI literacy in Indian Women
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched Yashoda AI, an initiative aimed at amplifying digital awareness among women, especially those from rural backgrounds. The platform was announced at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly. It aims to empower women across India with essential skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital safety. As India’s first nationwide AI literacy campaign focused on women, Yashoda AI aims to boost digital confidence among women, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The initiative goes beyond traditional training by addressing critical issues such as AI-driven crimes, digital privacy and practical online safety strategies. By engaging students, educators and women in law enforcement, Yashoda AI positions women to be informed digital users. “True change begins when a woman masters the tools of the future. Yashoda AI Abhiyan is about igniting confidence, enabling informed choices, and empowering every woman to shape a secure and inclusive digital tomorrow,” NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said at the launch event. She reiterated NCW’s commitment to protecting women’s rights in digital spaces through campaigns, helplines and policy dialogues. The initiative is a collaboration between NCW and Future Shift Labs (FSL). Nitin Narang, founder of FSL, said it is “not just about AI literacy, but about inclusion, dignity and digital empowerment for India’s women”. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government launched a digital literacy campaign, ‘AI Pragya’, to train 10 lakh youth and citizens in AI, ML, data analytics and cybersecurity. AI Pragya was implemented across the state, focusing on rural areas and involving companies like Microsoft, Intel, HCL, Amazon, Google and Wadhwani Foundation for training. The skill development and entrepreneurship ministry and Microsoft have signed an MoU to launch ‘AI Careers for Women’—an initiative to empower women in higher education institutions to pursue careers in AI. This collaboration seeks to bridge the gender gap in emerging tech by equipping women with industry-aligned AI skills, enabling them to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and become active contributors to India’s innovation-led growth.
The initiative aims to empower women across India with essential skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital safety.
The initiative aims to empower women across India with essential skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital safety.
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Merin Susan John is a journalist at Analytics India Magazine, reporting on the intersection of AI and human capital. She can be reached  at merin.john@aimmediahouse.com