Indian non-governmental trade body NASSCOM has launched a nationwide initiative to train 150,000 developers in artificial intelligence tools used across the software development lifecycle, as companies increasingly integrate AI into engineering workflows.

The program, called AI Code Sarathi, is designed to help developers move beyond experimenting with AI tools toward building production-ready applications. It will bring together participants from corporate technology teams, startups, and academic institutions.

Ankit Bose, Head of AI at NASSCOM, said the initiative is intended to support India’s shift from exploring AI capabilities to implementing them at scale.

Three-phase training program

The program will run in three stages — Explore, Engineer, and Excel — through the first half of the year.

The first phase, scheduled for March and April, will introduce developers to AI-assisted coding through four-hour workshops delivered both online and in person. Participants will learn to use code-completion tools and work on industry problem statements alongside experts.

The second stage, from April to June, will focus on deeper technical skills through guided learning sessions and mentorship.

The final phase will culminate in a national Agentic AI Hackathon, where developers will build solutions for real-world problems involving autonomous workflows and intelligent agents. Winners will receive prize money totaling ₹10 lakh.

Building AI talent and real-world applications

Participants who complete the program will receive blockchain-backed certificates and publish their code repositories on GitHub. Selected projects are expected to be showcased at AI Confluence 2026 in July.

The initiative also aims to create a portfolio of practical AI applications developed by participants.

NASSCOM said the program supports the objectives of the government-backed IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to expand the country’s AI talent base and accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence across industries.