MSME Ministry Trains Over 2,500 Artisans in AI Under PM Vishwakarma Scheme

In a significant push to blend traditional skills with emerging technology, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has trained more than 2,500 artisans and craftspeople in artificial intelligence tools under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The initiative is aimed at helping traditional workers improve livelihoods, strengthen business potential and adapt to a fast-changing digital economy. According to the government, 2,543 beneficiaries have already been covered under the programme.

The training programme was designed as a hands-on exercise, with sessions delivered in simple language and adapted to local contexts so that artisans from diverse trades could use the technology in practical ways. Participants were introduced to AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Indus and Google Gemini, with the focus placed on real-world applications rather than abstract technical instruction.

Officials said the programme covered a broad set of business-oriented use cases. These included branding, product design, packaging, marketing strategies, customer engagement, digital efficiency and the creation of AI-generated product descriptions and visual content. The larger objective is to help artisans improve the presentation and marketability of their products while expanding access to new customers and markets.

The initiative has seen participation from multiple states and Union Territories, reflecting a wide national spread. Telangana recorded the highest number of beneficiaries at 387, followed by Maharashtra with 295, Gujarat with 262, Rajasthan with 251, Bihar with 250, Karnataka with 248 and Uttar Pradesh with 210. Smaller but still notable participation was also reported from Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, Goa, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Tripura, Jharkhand, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The government has described the programme as a first-of-its-kind effort across ministries to bring grassroots artisans into the AI ecosystem. It has linked the initiative to the broader idea of “AI for Social Good,” with the goal of bridging the digital divide, improving product value, boosting global competitiveness and supporting more inclusive economic growth.

The move also highlights a larger policy direction in which technology is being positioned as a force multiplier for traditional sectors rather than a replacement for them. By combining craft knowledge with digital tools, the PM Vishwakarma framework is attempting to make India’s artisanal economy more modern, market-ready and globally visible.