The AI Skills Passport, a free online program created to give young Indians the skills and information they need to succeed in an AI-driven economy, was introduced by EY and Microsoft on Sunday in a significant move to close the AI skills gap in India.

Targeting those 16 and older, the program provides fair access to high-quality AI education, equipping students and early-career professionals with critical, employable AI skills.

India’s launch comes after a global roll-out earlier this year that saw over 40,000 people sign up and over 13,000 finish the program.

EY and Microsoft want to enable young people to upskill and be future-ready in an increasingly digital world, while NASSCOM reports that only 31% of Indian professionals feel adequately equipped to use AI tools.

“The launch of the AI Skills Passport addresses India’s growing demand for skilled AI talent in an era where AI is revolutionizing work and redefining career paths,” stated Monesh Dange, Partner and Leader, Alliances and Ecosystems, EY India.

“Many professionals are still ill-equipped to fully utilize AI. We’re dedicated to working with Microsoft to make sure this program is not just free but also effective at scale, giving everyone access to develop critical AI skills,” Dange continued.

With roughly 10 hours of information, the AI Skills Passport is a totally online curriculum that is accessible in both Hindi and English.

Learners can participate at their own pace thanks to the program’s combination of asynchronous evaluations, practical exercises, and modular video courses.

It covers the basics of AI, ethical AI practices, and applications of AI in a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, and finance. To help learners apply their skills and improve employability, practical exercises, real-world case studies, and career counseling—including networking techniques, interview preparation, and resume building—are incorporated.

In order to improve their job profiles and career chances in the AI-driven economy, participants who successfully complete the course are awarded a verifiable digital badge.

AI is revolutionizing India’s digital economy, with young people at its center, according to Bhaskar Basu, Enterprise Partnerships Leader, Microsoft India & South Asia. Our goal of “AI for all” and our dedication to developing talent prepared for the future are reflected in the AI Skills Passport, which was introduced in collaboration with EY.