First-of-its-kind Generative AI Certification course at an unprecedented affordable price of INR 499 for the foundation program to make AI skilling a ‘ghar ghar’ (to every home) and ‘har din’ (ensuring what you learn in the morning can be implemented by evening) movement

upGrad, one of Asia’s largest integrated skilling and forever learning majors has opened enrolments for ‘U&AI’ – a first-of-its-kind Generative AI Certification, developed in collaboration with Microsoft to skill 1 million learners in foundational and advanced GenAI within a year. The initiative, now bolstered by a completion certificate from NSDC, will accelerate India’s digital transformation by bridging the AI talent gap and enhancing employability for professionals, in the rapidly evolving job market.

The initiative ensures large-scale AI education and adoption with a strong focus on real-world applicability and is designed to equip individuals with essential AI knowledge at an unprecedented affordable price of INR 499 for the foundation program.

Aligned with India’s AI literacy mission, the initiative reflects NSDC’s commitment to mainstreaming future-forward digital skills and accelerating India’s transition into an AI-first economy.

NSDC will play a key role in ensuring widespread accessibility of this programme by leveraging its extensive PAN-India network.Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC & MD, NSDC International, said, “At NSDC, we are committed to democratising education and bridging the gap between skilling and employability. The AI course equips learners with essential skills for today's digital economy, preparing professionals for in-demand positions while enhancing India's standing as a global technology leader. Our forward-thinking approach anticipates market needs and creates pathways to meaningful careers.”

Venkat Krishnan, Executive Director, Public Sector, Healthcare, Education at Microsoft: “AI is the most transformative technology of our time, and with its vast talent pool, India is well-positioned to lead on the global stage. At Microsoft, we believe skilling is the key to unlocking this potential — future-proofing the workforce and accelerating the nation’s AI-first ambitions. Our partnership with upGrad is a vital step in that direction. We’re excited to see this collaboration come to life as we work together to equip a million learners and professionals with the skills they need to thrive in an AI economy.”

Available in five languages, the curriculum ensures accessibility and an engaging, interactive learning experience. Expanding beyond India, the program will also launch in Vietnam in the local language, ensuring greater accessibility and regional relevance, while driving global and regional workforce transformation. 

Commenting on the launch, Mayank Kumar, Co-founder, upGrad said, “In an era of AI-washing, where all sorts of credentials flood the market, ‘U&AI’ stands out by delivering industry-backed AI learning. This program is set to transform global workforces and address AI skill gaps at scale. AI is no longer just a workplace tool, it’s becoming an everyday routine through various digital touchpoints, making it crucial for professionals to adapt quickly. At upGrad, we focus on building careers, and ‘U&AI’ is a natural extension of that mission. By bringing AI skilling ‘ghar ghar’ (to every home) and ‘har din’ (ensuring that what you learn in the morning can be applied by evening), we are making AI literacy mainstream. With Microsoft and upGrad coming together, and the added credibility of NSDC, this initiative is poised to create wide-scale impact, this initiative will create an industry-wide ripple effect – one that is both positive and disruptive for the bigger picture – to prepare professionals for an AI-first future.”

Designed for both working professionals and freshers, ‘U&AI’ integrates content from Microsoft Learn (a comprehensive learning platform designed to help individuals build skills across Microsoft products and services through hands-on, interactive learning) and offers a two-week foundational program covering Generative AI fundamentals and Prompt-engineering skills to use Gen-AI in their daily lives. Learners will receive access to Productivity GPT – a custom AI-powered chatbot to apply their learning in real-time, hands-on training with Microsoft’s AI suite, and a joint certification upon completion. 

First announced during Satya Nadella’s India visit in January this year, the Certification has now been fully co-developed and is inviting enrolments; to learn more, read on: https://shorturl.at/tkquf