Telangana has announced a free artificial intelligence and cloud computing training programme for one lakh students across the state, with access to digital courses, hands-on cloud learning, industry sessions and potential job fairs after completion.
The Telangana AI and Cloud Skilling Initiative will be implemented by the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). An agreement between TASK and AWS was signed at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Monday, according to an announcement by Telangana Minister for IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu.
The programme will cover students from 643 TASK-affiliated colleges across Telangana. Training will include artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data engineering, machine learning and generative AI. Students will receive access to the AWS Cloud Console to support practical learning rather than relying only on classroom instruction.
The initiative will include specialised learning tracks for students from non-STEM disciplines, including Arts and Commerce, along with those studying Engineering and Science. This expands the programme beyond conventional technology courses and allows students from different academic backgrounds to access training in digital technologies.
Students enrolled in the programme will receive one year of free access to more than 900 digital courses through AWS Skill Builder. They will also receive discount vouchers for global certification examinations. The initiative is expected to include industry-connect sessions with technology experts and hackathons, giving participating students opportunities for practical exposure and interaction with technology professionals.
Sridhar Babu said the programme would be implemented without financial burden on the state government, educational institutions or students. The arrangement places TASK and AWS at the centre of delivery, with colleges linked to the programme through TASK’s existing network.
The announcement also includes an employment component. TASK will organise special job fairs for eligible students who successfully complete the training programme, according to the minister. The stated purpose of these fairs is to connect trained students with employment opportunities after they finish the programme.
Faculty members from participating colleges will also receive training in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies. Their inclusion is intended to support the delivery of the initiative within colleges, although the announcement did not specify the number of faculty members to be trained, the detailed timetable or the criteria students must meet to enrol.
The initiative comes as colleges and state skill-development agencies increasingly link formal education with industry-oriented digital training. Its reach will depend on how the 643 participating colleges schedule access, how students use the AWS learning platform and how completion is measured across different academic streams.
The agreement signed between TASK and AWS marks the formal start of the initiative. Further operational details, including enrolment procedures, training schedules and eligibility requirements, were not provided in the announcement.
