AIM & Bhashini Partner to Make Innovation Truly Inclusive

Can innovation flourish if people can’t understand the language of opportunity?

That’s the question the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog and the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under MeitY are trying to solve together.

In a landmark move to bridge the language divide in India's startup ecosystem, AIM and Bhashini have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to champion vernacular innovation—taking the message and tools of entrepreneurship to every corner of India, in every Indian language.

The pact, signed in New Delhi, brings together two powerful government arms with a shared vision: to make innovation accessible, inclusive, and truly representative of India's linguistic diversity. This collaboration promises to unlock new doors for thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who, until now, might have been held back—not by a lack of ideas, but by a lack of access to resources in their own language.

AIM & Bhashini Partners

India is home to 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects. But most innovation-related content, digital tools, learning platforms, and startup support systems remain dominated by English or Hindi. That’s a significant roadblock for aspiring entrepreneurs in rural and regional India who dream big but think and speak in their own mother tongues.

This is where Bhashini steps in—a project that’s building India’s AI-powered language stack to digitally empower citizens in their own languages. And now, by teaming up with AIM, which spearheads India’s efforts to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, Bhashini's technology will directly plug into the startup ecosystem.

As part of the first milestone in this collaboration, key content from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy will be translated into several Indian languages. This is a big win—WIPO courses are critical for understanding IP rights, a foundational aspect for startups and innovators. Until now, language has been a barrier to accessing this content. With Bhashini’s tools, IP knowledge will now speak in Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and beyond.

This initiative builds on a Joint Letter of Intent earlier signed between AIM, NITI Aayog, and WIPO, indicating a clear roadmap for deepening multilingual access to global knowledge.

Gamifying Learning, Empowering Innovators

The partnership isn’t stopping at translation. There are ambitious plans ahead—including gamifying learning content using Bhashini’s platforms. Think startup education made fun, intuitive, and most importantly—accessible in the language of your choice.

Startups supported by AIM—whether part of Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), or other programs—will soon be able to tap into multilingual development tools and sandbox environments. This will empower them to design language-inclusive products and services from the ground up.

It’s not just about teaching in regional languages—it’s about creating with them too.

Innovation from the Grassroots, For the Grassroots

The upcoming Language Inclusive Program for Innovation (LIPI) centres will be a critical node in this mission. These centres, embedded within AIM’s existing network, will use Bhashini’s technologies to deliver skilling, capacity-building, and mentoring in regional languages.

This could dramatically improve the outreach and impact of innovation programs in Tier II, Tier III cities, and rural belts—turning India’s rich linguistic landscape into an asset rather than a hurdle.

“This collaboration supports our broader goal of fostering inclusive innovation,” said Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, AIM.
“By integrating language technologies with AIM’s initiatives, we are taking a practical step toward ensuring accessibility and opportunity for innovators across India, regardless of language.”

With this SoI, AIM and Bhashini are putting out a bold message: no Indian innovator should be left behind because of language.

“Language should never be a barrier to innovation,” echoed Amitabh Nag, CEO of Digital India Bhashini Division.
“Through this collaboration with AIM, we aim to empower every Indian innovator — regardless of linguistic background — with the tools they need to participate fully in the digital and entrepreneurial revolution.”

In a time when India is aiming to become a global startup powerhouse, this partnership ensures that innovation truly becomes a people’s movement—not just in metros, not just in English, but across villages, towns, and communities in their own voices.

Because when innovation speaks your language, you don’t just listen—you act.