Hosapete, Karnataka : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman officially launched the VijAIpatha initiative on Saturday, December 20, 2025, unveiling a pilot project to bring state-of-the-art AI, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and robotics laboratories to government schools in Hosapete taluka of Vijayanagara district in Karnataka. The launch took place at a girls’ government school, where Sitharaman interacted with students and educators as part of the event.
The programme, formally named Cyient AI Labs (CyAILS) – VijAIpatha, has been positioned as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-led national initiative designed to democratise access to advanced technology education in public schools. It aims to reduce the digital divide by introducing students, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, to future-focused technologies at an early stage in their schooling.
Under the pilot phase of VijAIpatha, five fully equipped AI, STEM and robotics laboratories are being established in select government schools. Each lab will feature high-performance computers, AI-ready software, robotics kits, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, sensors and secure broadband connectivity, creating hands-on learning environments for students.
The initiative aligns with national priorities such as the National Education Policy 2020, the Digital India programme, and the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. It also integrates the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) AI curriculum with classroom learning, aiming to strengthen technology-enabled education within the public school system.
Also Read:- 57 New Kendriya Vidyalayas Coming Soon Across India!
According to official statements, the project is expected to directly benefit more than 2,000 students and include structured training for over 200 teachers, building foundational digital skills, computational thinking, creativity and problem-solving capabilities tied to real-world challenges.
The pilot model is also being designed as a scalable and replicable CSR framework that can be expanded to additional districts and states through collaboration with state education departments. Organisers have said this could set a precedent for future roll-outs of AI education in government schools across the country.
At the launch, students from a local government college demonstrated AI concepts to the minister, highlighting early engagement with the new technology and the appetite among learners to embrace digital skills that may shape future careers.
The VijAIpatha programme represents a concerted effort by government, industry partners and educators to embed technology literacy at the grassroots level, making advanced learning accessible beyond elite urban centres and contributing to broader educational equity and workforce readiness.