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The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched five free Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses on the SWAYAM portal to equip students with the skills required in the rapidly growing AI-driven economy. These courses aim to enhance employability, promote research and innovation, and provide access to high-quality education for learners across India.

About SWAYAM

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is India’s indigenous Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, launched in 2017. It seeks to bridge the digital divide and provide access to education for students across rural and urban areas. The platform hosts courses from Class 9 to post-graduation across disciplines including Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Commerce, Arts, Mathematics, and Language.

Courses are delivered in four quadrants:

1. Video lectures
2. Downloadable reading material
3. Self-assessment tests (quizzes and assignments)
4. Online discussion forums

Courses are free of cost, though learners opting for certification must pay a nominal fee. Successful completion is assessed through a proctored examination, and the earned credits can be transferred to a student’s academic record under UGC’s Credit Framework for Online Learning (2016).

National Coordinators of SWAYAM

• AICTE: Self-paced and international courses
• NPTEL: Engineering courses
• UGC: Non-technical post-graduate education
• CEC: Undergraduate education
• NCERT & NIOS: School education
• IGNOU: Out-of-school learners
• IIMB: Management studies
• NITTTR: Teacher training programs
• Institutes of National Importance (INI): Non-technical courses

SWAYAM Plus Platform

SWAYAM Plus, operated by IIT Madras, offers industry-collaborated courses to enhance employability. It focuses on sectors such as Manufacturing, Energy, IT/ITES, Healthcare, Management, Hospitality, and Indian Knowledge Systems, with features like multilingual content (12 Indian languages), AI-enabled guidance, credit recognition, and employment pathways.

Free AI Courses Offered

1. AI/ML Using Python: Covers basics of AI, Machine Learning, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Optimization, Data Visualization, and Python programming. Duration: 36 hours with certification assessment.
2. Cricket Analytics with AI: Introduces sports analytics using Python with cricket as a case study. Offered by IIT Madras. Duration: 25 hours with multiple-choice assessment.
3. AI in Physics: Demonstrates how Machine Learning and Neural Networks can solve real-world physics problems through interactive sessions and lab work. Duration: 45 hours.
4. AI in Accounting: Focused on commerce and management students, explaining applications of AI in accounting practices. Duration: 45 hours with certification assessment.
5. AI in Chemistry: Teaches prediction of molecular properties, reaction modeling, and drug design using AI and Python. Duration: 45 hours, offered by IIT Madras.

These courses exemplify practical applications of AI, such as predicting outcomes from data—for instance, estimating the speed of the next ball in cricket by analyzing past records. They aim to prepare students for careers in technology, innovation, and research, keeping India at the forefront of the AI revolution.