MIB turns to AI trailblazers to unite India’s voices

MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju unveiled two flagship initiatives—‘Kalaa Setu’ to fuse technology with India’s creative sectors and ‘Bhasha Setu’ to develop AI-driven tools for real-time translation—under the Ministry’s WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform to promote linguistic inclusivity

In a significant move to promote digital inclusion and bridge India’s linguistic diversity, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is engaging AI-driven startups to build scalable multilingual solutions. On July 17, MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju met with entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators at T-Hub in Hyderabad to outline the Ministry’s tech-driven vision for inclusive communication.

The session brought together startup founders from across the country, innovation cell representatives from IIT Hyderabad, various NITs, and engineering institutions with active research programs in AI and machine learning. It marked a collaborative push to identify indigenous technologies that can help deliver content in multiple Indian languages.

Jaju announced the launch of two flagship initiatives—‘Kalaa Setu’ and ‘Bhasha Setu’—under the Ministry’s WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform. ‘Kalaa Setu’ is aimed at integrating technology with India’s creative industries, while ‘Bhasha Setu’ seeks AI-powered tools for real-time translation and content delivery across regional languages.

Addressing the gathering, Jaju emphasized the government’s intent to support India’s creator economy and remove digital language barriers, enabling last-mile access to accurate information. He invited startups to co-develop AI solutions that reflect India’s cultural richness while ensuring equitable communication access.

The Ministry’s effort to harness AI for multilingual outreach represents a strategic step toward deepening democratic access to information, particularly for non-English speaking populations. It also underscores the government’s focus on fostering public-private partnerships to build a digitally inclusive and culturally representative ecosystem.