Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launches WhatsApp AI assistant

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched SIA—the Skill India Assistant, an AI chatbot on WhatsApp—built to make skilling opportunities more accessible for users across India.

“SIA is designed to equip the youth with localised skill guidance and access to job opportunities, empowering them to build strong, future-ready careers. Aligned with the vision of 'AI for All', this is a key step toward an inclusive, technology-driven future where our youth lead the way,” according to a post by the ministry’s official handle on X.

Developed in partnership with Meta and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and implemented by Sarvam AI, SIA is powered by open-source Llama technology and offers personalised assistance in English, Hindi, and Hinglish.  

By using the new voice-enabled chatbot, users can discover skilling courses, receive job recommendations that align with their profiles, and locate nearby training centres. 

The launch highlights India’s push to make digital skilling more accessible and inclusive, particularly for first-time internet users and those in underserved regions. 

The SIA chatbot can be accessed on WhatsApp by sending a message to +91 8448684032.

Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam AI was recently selected by the IndiaAI Mission to develop the country’s first homegrown large language model (LLM). The firm was chosen from a pool of 67 applicants and will receive government-backed computing resources to build the AI model. 

Sarvam said its model will be voice-first, proficient in Indian languages, with plans for population-scale deployment.