Latest news with #EkStep
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani commits second multi-year grant to AI4Bharat; total Rs 70 crore
Building on the success of his first grant, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has committed a second multi-year grant to AI4Bharat—an open-source initiative at IIT Madras that is building foundational AI models for Indian languages -- taking the total funding to Rs 70 crore. AI4Bharat aims to gather 15,000 hours of transcribed data from over 400 districts encompassing all 22 scheduled languages of India. In parallel, its in-house team of over 100 translators is creating a parallel corpus with 2.2 million translation pairs across 22 languages. "This grant, issued directly by Nandan Nilekani, reflects his belief that AI4Bharat is one of the most impactful technology infrastructure projects in India. Their work will play a vital role in making India the AI use case capital of the world," a statement from EkStep Foundation , founded by Nilekani, said. 'AI4Bharat is building the infrastructure that ensures every Indian can access digital services in the language they speak. I strongly believe that India can be the use case capital of AI in the world. With our DPI foundation, we can build better AI, and in turn, AI can turbocharge DPI. Our belief is that AI should be inclusive, not extractive. It should amplify every human being's potential. That's our vision of AI for the people—AI to make lives better, AI to amplify human potential,' Nilekani said in the statement. EkStep did not respond to queries from ET on how much the second grant alone is and its duration. Also, details of the quantum of the first grant is not known. In 2020, EkStep and AI4Bharat began investing in language digitisation, data infrastructure, and early models tailored to Indian linguistic diversity. "Applications were built within weeks of ChatGPT's release in 2022, ranging from chatbots in regional languages to integrations in governance and education. AI4Bharat's models became the underlying infrastructure for this rapid deployment," the statement said. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories AI4Bharat has become the language backbone of India's AI stack, EkStep said. Its open-source speech, translation, and text-to-speech models now power key public digital platforms. Bhashini, India's national language platform under the IndiaAI Mission, has adopted AI4Bharat's models to scale multilingual services across governance, healthcare, and finance. The Supreme Court's SUVAS system translates judgments into regional languages. National Payments Corporation of India has enabled voice-based Unified Payments Interface transactions in native tongues. Agricultural chatbots like Kisan e-Mitra use these models to deliver real-time information to farmers. AI4Bharat's language datasets—collected in all 22 constitutionally recognised Indian languages—have been released as public goods, openly available for use through the AI4Bharat website and integrated into AIKosh, India's open AI repository. Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI is the first startup to be selected to build an indigenous foundation model under the Rs 10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission, the government had announced. "We are collaborating with AI4Bharat, in Indian language AI research, to build these models," Sarvam cofounder Pratyush Kumar had said. 'With the growing need for Bharat-specific AI models, and also reducing the possibility of a potential AI divide, the vision of 'AI for All' is extremely relevant for our country,' said Prof V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, in the statement. The first grant given in 2022 established the Nilekani Centre at AI4Bharat, supported by EkStep Foundation.
NDTV
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
The Significance Of Play: Enhancing Brain Development, Skills, And Happiness In Children
New Delhi: It starts with a laugh, a chase, or a cardboard crown. A child transforms a room into a jungle, a classroom into a kingdom, and a stick into a magic wand. What looks like simple play is actually a complex, beautiful process of becoming, where children build not just games but themselves. Recognizing this hidden brilliance of play, the Bachpan Manao initiative by EkStep and NDTV is championing a powerful message: let's bring joy back into learning. Through playful experiences, every child, regardless of background or ability, can unlock their full potential. It's not about adding more; it's about bringing back what was always essential. Play Lights Up the Brain Science backs what every child's giggle already proves: play builds the brain. When children role-play, build, or create, they activate key regions of the brain involved in problem-solving, emotional regulation, and memory. It's during play that the brain's 'happy hormone,' dopamine, gets released, boosting not just mood, but motivation and learning. From the American Academy of Pediatrics to cutting-edge neuroscientists, the verdict is clear: Play sharpens communication Enhances creativity Strengthens social-emotional skills And lays the groundwork for resilience Every Child, Every Way Play isn't one-size-fits-all. For children who are neurodiverse— those with autism, ADHD, or sensory sensitivities—play can look different, but it's just as powerful. Sensory play helps calm and focus. Movement play supports coordination and expression. Parallel play offers a gentle social connection. 'Role play helps neurodiverse children prepare for real-life situations with confidence and comfort.' Learning in Disguise Even in neurotypical children, play does what textbooks often can't—it teaches empathy, cooperation, and emotional intelligence. A pretend school game, a shared puzzle, or a dance-off with friends can become the backdrop for powerful learning moments. 'Play makes children resilient. It teaches conflict resolution, negotiation, and communication,' says Richa Shukla, CEO of Dost Education. Play is Preparation, Not Pause Bachpan Manao reminds us that play is not the opposite of learning—it's the foundation of it. It's how children process the world, build relationships, and develop the strength to handle life's challenges. When we protect and promote play, we invest in smarter, kinder, and more capable generations. So let them build forts, invent planets, and make a mess. That's not just play—it's the work of childhood. And it matters more than we think. Play is their language. Joy is their guide. Let's give every child the freedom to learn in the way they were born to.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka plans 180-hour spoken English classes in government schools starting this year: Report
Karnataka's Department of School Education and Literacy is gearing up to launch dedicated spoken English classes for government school students in the upcoming academic year, Times of India reported. This comes after a stalled rollout last year. The earlier plan, announced in 2023, aimed to conduct spoken English sessions over weekends in select government schools. Although master trainers had been trained by the Regional Institute of English, the program never materialized due to poor execution and lack of follow-through, the report added. This time, the department is taking a more structured approach. Officials are proposing 180 hours of spoken English instruction over the school year, the report further added. Approximately 1,000 schools, including Karnataka Public Schools, will be selected based on student strength. To support implementation, the government also plans to recruit guest teachers specifically for this program. (Also Read: 'Kannada is a beautiful language': California Burrito founder has an advice to those moving to Karnataka) According to the TOI report, the upcoming modules will focus on real-world communication, beginning with simple vocabulary-building exercises like naming objects, people, and places, before progressing to sentence construction. Later stages will introduce functional English, such as how to ask questions, seek directions, or request help. Higher levels will incorporate storytelling, arts, cultural discussions, and personal experiences to make learning more engaging. Teachers will also be encouraged to create classroom scenarios that demand active student participation. The spoken English initiative will also be complemented by 'Ek Step', an AI-powered digital learning tool announced in the state budget, designed to make language acquisition interactive and tech-friendly. Meanwhile, the popularity of English-medium instruction in government schools continues to surge. At present, 4,190 schools offer English-medium sections. In response to growing demand, the government has committed to adding another 4,000 such schools, as announced in last year's budget. (Also Read: Karnataka Home Minister blames BJP for Siddaramaiah's gesture towards police officer)
Time of India
27-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt school students to learn Spoken English from this year
Bengaluru: After a failed start last year, spoken English classes for govt schoolchildren in Karnataka will be launched this year with Department of School Education and Literacy drawing up a comprehensive plan with better resources. Spoken English classes were to be launched over weekends last year in select govt schools. Even though Regional Institute of English conducted a state-level training for master trainers, the programme never took off. Now, the department is contemplating having 180 hours of teaching in an academic year. Around 1,000 schools, based on student strength, are likely to be selected for the programme, which will cover Karnataka Public Schools too. It plans to recruit one guest teacher to handle spoken English classes. "In regular English classes, we are obsessed with exams and completing the portion. Teaching gets restricted to the prescribed content. Also, there is no environment where they can speak in English class. At least if teachers conduct their classroom instruction in English for at least 40 minutes, it could lead to a natural conversation, giving some exposure to the natural bit of English speaking," said an academician. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seoul-teukbyeolsi: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo "Teachers have to create situations to design activities in the classroom. We need language functions like how to introduce oneself, how to ask questions, among others," he added. Most spoken English modules start with very simple activities where students name objects, places, and people and later build sentences based on those pictures. Language functions like questioning skills in English, simple conversations in English, like making inquiries, asking for information, directions or help. In higher levels, there will be activities based on art and craft, culture, festivals, and life experiences as well. The modules are yet to be fleshed out. 'Ek Step' announced in the budget with AI-powered language learning is also being launched. English-medium sections of govt schools have become extremely popular with the masses, encouraging the govt to announce more such sections. Around 4,190 schools currently have English-medium sections. The govt announced another 4,000 such schools in the previous budget. MSID:: 120647159 413 |
NDTV
23-04-2025
- General
- NDTV
How Can We Ensure A Balanced Childhood? Experts' Parental Guidance To Reduce Screen Time
New Delhi: The early years of a child are significant as it is a period of rapid growth - physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Engaging them in playful learning, and encouraging active participation are fundamental to their holistic development. And this is the essence of 'Bachpan Manao', an initiative by EkStep and NDTV. This social mission is dedicated to maximising the learning and growth opportunities of early childhood. There are several individuals who recognise the impact of the formative years, and Mrunal Shah, Founder of Sunday Bricks is one of them. He champions environments and interactions that allow children to thrive. According to Shah, the critical need for well-crafted play areas for a child's overall well-being. Harpreet Singh Grover, expert in parenting and education, also shared essential measures for parents to limit screen time and foster more creativity, exploration, and family bonding. In a world rapidly dominated by digital screens, the experts highlighted key tips that can help reduce children's screen time effectively: Parents are suggested to participate in a child's day-to-day activities as it encourages interaction. Parents must engage in play together to strengthen bonds, stimulate imagination, and provide a fun alternative to screen time. Give children space and opportunities to interact with grandparents, cousins, and family members, as this will foster their social skills. Parents should be involved in a child's participation in school events. This will help improve academic performance and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Spend quality time with children. Being present leads to deeper understanding, open communication, furthermore keeping them away from screen use towards. Children learn by watching. Parents must show their kids the joy of play by participating themselves. Monkey See, Monkey Do! By actively playing, you're not just having fun, you're directly contributing to your child's healthy development. By engaging in playful learning and being involved in a child's day-to-day activities, we can give children the best chance to learn, grow, and enjoy a well-rounded childhood. Play is the heart of early childhood. But screens often get in the way, taking time away from play, which brings learning, growth and joy! Take the pledge to ensure less screen, more play for your children. Log on to
