Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PM Modi) has unveiled Bhashini, an AI-based language translation tool developed indigenously in India.
During his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on July 4, Narendra Modi said, while addressing SCO heads of state, “We are happy to offer Bhashini, India’s language platform driven by AI, to all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in order to overcome language obstacles. This endeavor can be a great example of using digital technology to promote inclusive development.”
“It can become an example of digital technology and inclusive growth,” PM Modi added.
A Bhashini Platform will make Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) resources available to MSMEs, Startups, and Individual Innovators in the public domain.
This mission aims to empower Indian citizens by connecting them to the Digital Initiatives of the country in their own language thereby leading to digital inclusion.
The Bhashini platform is interoperable and will catalyze the entire Digital Ecosystem. It is a giant step to realize the goal of Digital Government.
Bhashini also aims to increase the content in Indian languages on the Internet substantially in the domains of public interest, particularly, governance-and-policy, science & technology, etc., thus will encourage citizens to use the Internet in their own language.
Bhashini project is ‘Bhasha Daan,’ a language crowdsourcing initiative. Through Bhasha Daan, the government engages the public in contributing to multiple Indian languages.
Individuals can participate in Bhasha Daan through four different modes:
- Suno India (listen)
- Bolo India (speak)
- Likho India (write)
- Dekho India (observe)
The users have the opportunity to transcribe spoken words, validate contributions, or provide accurate translations, thereby collectively enhancing language resources.
