India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is offering a free AI scholarship to 15,000 people in media and creative fields, run by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) with Google and YouTube. The scholarship covers about 33 hours of online Google AI courses, followed by a hands-on specialisation phase in storytelling, creative production and YouTube best practices. Enrolment was announced as open on May 4, 2026, and no closing date has been published.
If you study animation, film, design, mass communication or gaming, or you already make content online, this guide covers what the programme includes, who it is for, how to enrol through the official portal and how to make the most of it alongside college.
Key Facts
- Announced on March 25, 2026, by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw quoted on training 15,000 participants (Careers360, Mar 25, 2026).
- Enrolment was declared open in an official press release dated May 4, 2026 (PIB Mumbai).
- Partners: Google and YouTube, with IICT as the implementation partner handling curriculum, outreach and delivery.
- Seats: 15,000 AI Skill Scholarships.
- Phase I is online and takes about 33 hours, covering Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s generative AI learning paths.
- Phase II is a hybrid specialisation in storytelling, creative production and advanced AI tools. It is open only to people who finish Phase I.
- Cost: free for eligible learners, according to the official portal.
- Official portal: aiskillhouse.iict.org. IICT contact: iict@iict.org.
What Is the IICT National AI Skilling Programme?
The National AI Skilling Programme for the Creative Sector is a free, two-phase AI training scheme for people in media, entertainment, animation, gaming and digital storytelling. On the official portal it appears as “AI Skills House x MIB x IICT.” News sites often call it the National AI Skilling Initiative. All three names refer to the same programme.
IICT is a national institute for creative technologies set up in Mumbai under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Public broadcaster News On Air has called it India’s first creative tech institute, focused on animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) and media technology. Its campus is at the NFDC complex on Pedder Road, which is also the contact address on the scholarship portal.
The “scholarship” here is free access to courses that would otherwise be paid. It is not cash, a stipend or a fee waiver for a degree. That matters if you are comparing it with merit scholarships that pay tuition.
Who Can Apply for This Free AI Scholarship?
The programme is aimed at students, aspiring creators and working professionals in India’s creative and media industries. According to the official portal, that includes content creators, designers, filmmakers and storytellers, as well as developers and IT professionals working in media and technology. No prior coding experience is required.
The official sources do not publish formal criteria such as a minimum age, a required degree or a list of eligible courses. The PIB release describes the target as “emerging and high-potential talent,” which suggests there may be some selection. Neither the release nor the portal explains how that works.
Is It Useful for Students Outside Media Courses?
Probably, if you create content in any form. A BCom student who runs an Instagram page, a BTech student who edits videos for the college fest, or a BA English student writing scripts all fit the “creator” description. Students with no link to creative work may find the Phase II specialisation less relevant, though the Phase I Google courses are general AI literacy.
What You Will Learn: Phase I and Phase II
The programme runs in two phases: an online foundation course, then a hybrid specialisation that unlocks only when you finish the first.
Phase I: Foundation (Online, About 33 Hours)
Phase I builds core AI literacy through self-paced modules, which the portal says are delivered via Coursera and YouTube. The official portal lists:
- Google Career Certificates
- Google AI Essentials, on using generative AI for productivity and everyday work
- Google Prompting Essentials
- Google Cloud’s generative AI learning path, including Introduction to Generative AI and the Gen AI Leader path
The PIB release says this phase covers generative AI basics, prompting techniques and responsible AI practices.
The 14-Day Rule
This is the detail most likely to catch students out. The portal says the Phase I foundation certification is recognised by MIB and IICT only if you finish Phase I within 14 days of your start date. Thirty-three hours in two weeks works out to about 2 hours 20 minutes a day, every day. Plan accordingly.
Phase II: Specialisation (Hybrid)
Phase II is project-based and co-developed by IICT and YouTube. According to the PIB release and the portal, it covers:
- Storytelling and creative production with AI
- YouTube best practices for reach and engagement
- Guided Google Developers Codelabs
- Tools named on the portal, including AI Studio, Vertex AI, Gemini, Veo, Antigravity and “vibe coding”
The portal estimates about 4 hours for Phase II but adds that depth varies by track and pace, so treat that figure loosely. Careers360 reported that Phase II runs in a hybrid format across key creative hubs in India. The exact cities have not been published. Phase II details are sent by email after you complete Phase I.
Certificate: What You Actually Get
The official portal says learners who complete all modules receive a Certificate of Completion from Google, YouTube, MIB and IICT. Completing the individual Google courses on Coursera may also earn you course certificates you can add to LinkedIn; check each course page to confirm.
Be realistic about what these certificates are worth. A short-course certificate shows initiative and basic literacy. It is not a degree or a professional licence. What will matter more to a studio or agency is the project you build in Phase II, so treat that as your portfolio piece.
How to Enrol: Step by Step
You enrol online through the official AI Skills House portal run by IICT. The portal does not list detailed steps, so this is the safest route based on the official sources:
- Go to the official portal. Type aiskillhouse.iict.org into your browser yourself rather than clicking a forwarded link.
- Click “Enroll Now.” This takes you to the enrolment page at aiskillhouse.iict.org/enroll.
- Read the programme document. The PIB release links to a detailed programme document. Read it before you start so you know what each phase involves.
- Choose your start date carefully. Your 14-day clock starts when you begin. Avoid weeks with internal exams, submissions or college fests.
- Finish Phase I, then watch your email. Phase II details arrive by email after you complete Phase I.
If anything is unclear, the portal lists iict@iict.org and three phone numbers starting +91 8655 9549. Use those rather than numbers posted on social media.
How to Spot a Fake Version
Popular free government-backed programmes attract look-alike sites, and even genuine reports disagree on small details: one third-party article gives two different announcement dates. Protect yourself with three checks:
- The official enrolment address ends in iict.org, and official announcements appear on pib.gov.in.
- The programme is free for eligible learners. Anyone asking for a “registration fee” or “certificate fee” is not part of the official scheme.
- Never share OTPs, bank details or Aadhaar numbers with anyone who says they will “confirm your seat.”
Is Enrolment Still Open in October 2026?
The official sources do not answer this. The PIB release of May 4, 2026, said enrolment was open, and neither it nor the portal gives a closing date. With 15,000 seats and more than five months since enrolment opened, seats may already be filling up. Check the enrol page directly, and if it is unclear, email IICT before planning around it.
How to Get the Most Out of It as a Student
Treat the programme as a structured way to build one AI-assisted creative project. Collecting a certificate is the smaller win.
- Pick a project before you start. A short film, an explainer series, a game trailer or a campus podcast all work. Apply each Phase I lesson to that project as you go.
- Keep a simple log. Note which AI tool you used, for what and what you changed by hand. If a client or interviewer asks how the work was made, the log gives you a clear answer.
- Follow your college’s AI rules. If you reuse programme work for coursework, check your college’s AI policy and disclose AI use where it is required.
- Mind copyright and consent. Use your own footage, licensed assets or material you have permission to use, especially when working with generative video tools.
- Do not stop at the course. Publish the final project on YouTube, Behance or a personal site so recruiters can see it.
How It Compares With Other Free AI Courses in India
This programme is narrower than general free AI courses. That focus is its main advantage if you work in creative fields. Platforms such as SWAYAM and Skill India offer broad AI and Python courses open to almost anyone. The IICT programme is built around media and entertainment, ties in YouTube-specific training and includes a hands-on second phase.
If you want a career in animation, VFX, gaming, filmmaking or content creation, this is one of the few free options built for your industry. If you want to become a data scientist or software engineer, a general AI or programming course will serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the IICT AI scholarship really free?
Ans. Yes. The official portal says the programme is free for eligible learners and gives no-cost access to courses such as Google AI Essentials and Google Prompting Essentials. The scholarship is free course access, not cash.
Q. What is the last date to apply?
Ans. No application deadline has been published in the PIB release or on the official portal. The only stated time limit is that you must complete Phase I within 14 days of starting for it to be recognised.
Q. Can college students apply?
Ans. Yes. The official portal names students and aspiring creators among the target learners, and no coding experience is required. The programme is aimed mainly at people in media, entertainment, animation, gaming and digital storytelling.
Q. What certificate will I get?
Ans. The official portal says learners who complete all modules receive a Certificate of Completion from Google, YouTube, MIB and IICT. Phase I certification is recognised only if you finish it within 14 days of your start date.
Q. Where do I enrol?
Ans. Enrol only through the official portal at aiskillhouse.iict.org by clicking “Enroll Now.” Do not pay anyone who claims to offer a seat, since the programme is free.
Next Steps
If you work in or study a creative field, visit the official portal, read the programme document and pick a two-week window when you can give Phase I about two hours a day. Confirm with IICT that seats are still available before you plan around it. Check back here for updates on Phase II locations and any new cohorts announced by IICT or the Ministry.