Bhashini, short for “Language Interface for India”, is a government initiative aimed at removing language barriers across the country. Launched under the National Language Translation Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Bhashini supports 22 Indian languages ​​and offers a suite of open-source AI models to promote seamless communication.

Speaking in conversation with Business Today Editor Siddharth Jarabi at the Business Today-India Today AI Conclave 2024, Amitabh Nag, CEO of Bhashini, highlighted the transformative impact of Bhashini. “Our system returns about 6 million findings per day, making it one of the largest in the world,” he said, adding that the platform has created digital data for languages ​​like Sindhi, where none existed previously.

Bhasini’s abilities extend far beyond translation. By leveraging its API, the tool tackles critical divides – financial, digital, literacy and language. For example, it helps farmers access bank loans by translating key documents from English to local languages, helping them easily understand the terms and conditions. Nag cites the example of a chatbot developed by Bhashini that simplifies communication for farmers, allowing them to inquire about government schemes like direct benefit transfers in their native language.

The platform also has applications in other sectors. Nag says courts in India operate primarily in English, creating accessibility challenges for non-English speakers. A proof-of-concept using Bhashini demonstrated how legal proceedings could be translated into local languages ​​in real time. Similarly, on World Disability Day, Bhashini updated the railway manual to make it accessible to visually impaired users.

Bhashini also allows a real-time conversation tool, enabling people speaking different languages ​​to communicate seamlessly, similar to Google Translate. Plans are underway to integrate multilingual video conferencing into this platform to further enhance its utility.

By building over 300 open-source AI models and using GPUs to train them, Bhashini is not only addressing India’s linguistic diversity but also empowering its people with innovative digital tools. As a vital part of India’s digital transformation, Bhashini is set to redefine how Indians connect, communicate and access opportunities.

Launched in 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the platform is powered by AI and natural language processing technologies, which aims to promote digital inclusion and empower citizens across diverse linguistic regions. Bhashini provides access to over 300 pre-trained AI models through its open Bhashini API, which assists ecosystem partners in their language-related endeavours. In December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated its capabilities by using Bhashini to translate his live speech for a Tamil-speaking audience. Similarly, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman used the platform during the Union Budget 2024 presentation.