In a groundbreaking move to bridge the language divide in higher education, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to implement Project Udaan—an advanced AI-based translation platform that will make academic content available in multiple Indian languages.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed at IGNOU’s headquarters, marking a major step towards the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for multilingual education and inclusive learning opportunities across the country.
What is Project Udaan?
Project Udaan, spearheaded by Professor Ganesh Ramakrishnan at IIT Bombay, leverages artificial intelligence to accurately translate complex academic and technical content while preserving the original layout and formatting. The platform integrates Optical Character Recognition (OCR), domain-specific glossaries, and human-in-the-loop feedback to ensure high-quality and contextually accurate translations.
This cutting-edge initiative is designed to empower India’s diverse student population by offering textbooks, study material, and learning modules in regional languages, eliminating the limitations posed by English-only academic resources.
IGNOU Study Material to Be Available in Indian Languages
With IGNOU being one of the largest open universities in the world and IIT Bombay’s expertise in AI and linguistics, the collaboration is set to make a large impact. IGNOU’s extensive collection of learning material will soon be accessible in several Indian languages, benefiting millions of students from rural, tribal, and non-English speaking backgrounds.
The partnership also supports national missions such as Digital India and Bharat Bhasha, focusing on the integration of Indian languages in the digital ecosystem and promoting inclusive AI research.
A Transformational Step Toward Inclusive Education
Senior officials from both institutions called the collaboration a major step toward educational equality and innovation. They emphasized that Project Udaan could be a pivotal moment in India’s journey to inclusive, tech-driven education, especially for underserved and remote communities.
By removing language as a barrier, the initiative aims to create equal opportunities in higher education, aligning with India’s broader vision of democratizing knowledge access through technology.
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