India is undergoing a digital language revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), with platforms integrating all 22 Scheduled Languages and numerous tribal and regional dialects into the country’s digital infrastructure.

AI-Powered Linguistic Inclusion

• Bhashini Platform:
  • Launched under the National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
  • Provides real-time translation for 22 Scheduled and several tribal languages.
  • Integrates with projects like Sansad Bhashini to make parliamentary debates accessible in native languages.
• BharatGen:
  • Develops text-to-text and text-to-speech translation models using datasets from SPPEL (Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages) and Sanchika (CIIL digital repository).
  • Aims to improve multilingual accessibility in governance, education, and healthcare.

Preservation of Tribal and Endangered Languages

• Adi-Vaani (Launched 2024):
  • India’s first AI-driven tribal language platform for real-time translation and preservation.
  • Covers languages such as Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi.
  • Uses speech recognition and natural language processing (NLP) to record oral traditions and make tribal languages usable in formal settings.
• SPPEL Scheme (since 2013):
  • Documents languages spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.
  • Implemented by Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru.
• Sanchika Repository:
  • Digitally archives dictionaries, storybooks, and multimedia content, forming training datasets for AI language models.
• TRI-ECE Scheme (Ministry of Tribal Affairs):
  • Uses AI tools to translate English and Hindi material into tribal languages with cultural sensitivity and linguistic accuracy.

Digital Transformation in Education

• AI in Learning: Enables translation of educational content to promote learning in native languages — aligned with NEP 2020.
• AICTE’s e-KUMBH Portal: Provides technical books and study material in multiple Indian languages.
• Anuvadini App: Translates textbooks in engineering, medicine, law, and skill development fields.
• SWAYAM Platform: Offers online courses to over 5 crore learners, now increasingly multilingual.
• National Translation Mission (NTM) and National Mission on Manuscripts (NMM): Digitize and preserve classical texts, connecting India’s ancient linguistic heritage with modern technology.

Technology Backbone

• Core AI Technologies:
  • Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)
  • Text-to-Speech Synthesis (TTS)
  • Neural Machine Translation (NMT)
  • Natural Language Understanding (NLU)
• Pre-trained  Language Models:
• • Tools like IndicBERT and mBART enable high-accuracy translation across Indian languages.
  • Training data derived from digitized manuscripts, folklore, and education repositories enhance contextual accuracy.

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Challenges

• Data Gaps: Many dialects lack sufficient annotated data for accurate AI translation.
• Bias & Contextual Errors: AI may misinterpret culturally specific expressions.
• Digital Divide: Limited access to devices or connectivity in rural/tribal regions.

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