Apex public policy think tank NITI Aayog has proposed a national programme - Mission Digital ShramSetu - to make artificial intelligence (AI) accessible, affordable and impactful for 49 crore workers from the informal sector.
The mission proposes to harness AI, blockchain, immersive learning and other frontier technologies to dismantle constraints like financial insecurity, limited market access, and skilling, and aims to empower informal workers with tools and platforms that amplify skill, increase productivity, and ensure dignity in work.
Speaking at the launch of the report, BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog underscored the need to collaborate for this as non-negotiable.
“If we are serious about transforming the lives of India’s 490 million informal workers, collaboration is not optional—it is non-negotiable. This goal demands cross-functional action: from focused R&D that reduces the cost of frontier technologies, to building a sustainable ecosystem of innovation tailored to the informal sector, to skilling and reskilling at scale. Only by uniting government, industry, academia, and civil society can we ensure that this mission delivers not just technology adoption, but real, lasting empowerment," Subrahmanyam said.
India's informal sector contributes nearly half of India's GDP, yet it remains excluded from formal systems of protection, opportunity, and productivity, Subrahmanyam added.
The proposed mission emphasises on building inclusion through collaboration across government, industry, academia, and civil society. "Only then can AI serve as a true equalizer—lifting the millions at the margins into the mainstream of India’s growth story and turning the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 into reality," the report said.
The roadmap also underscored the high cost of delay. At the current trajectory, informal workers’ average annual income will stagnate at $6,000 by 2047—far below the $14,500 target necessary to secure high-income status for India. "Immediate, coordinated action is essential to avoid leaving millions behind and weakening India’s growth story," the report said.
Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education said, "Empowering India’s informal workers is not just an economic priority, it is a moral imperative."
"The goal of digital skilling in AI for workers aligns perfectly with our national skilling agenda by leveraging AI and frontier technologies to make learning adaptive, accessible, and demand-driven. By bringing together government, industry, and civil society, this mission will ensure that every worker—whether a farmer, artisan, or healthcare aide—has the skills, tools, and opportunities needed to thrive in the digital economy of tomorrow," MoS Chaudhary added.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog and Chief Architect of the Frontier Tech Hub said AI will not automatically transform the informal sector. “For India to achieve its $30 trillion Viksit Bharat 2047 aspiration, we cannot leave behind the 490 million workers who power our economy every day. AI will not transform their lives on its own—it requires us to deliberately build the roadmap and ecosystem that make these technologies accessible and affordable," she added.
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