Gujarat signs ₹100 crore AI training MoU with Automation Anywhere for 10 years
Synopsis
Gujarat has locked in a decade-long, ₹100 crore AI skilling partnership with Automation Anywhere — one of the largest state-level enterprise AI commitments in India — targeting students, MSMEs, and government employees. The deal directly mirrors PM Modi's Independence Day pledge to train one crore Indians in AI, making Gujarat the first state to formally operationalise that vision through a corporate MoU.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat's Department of Science and Technology signed a 10-year MoU with Automation Anywhere in Gandhinagar on 17 August .
The company will provide approximately ₹100 crore in financial support over the agreement's duration.
Beneficiaries include students, youth, government employees, MSMEs , startups, and academic institutions across Gujarat.
Trainees will receive access to Community Edition licences of Automation Anywhere's no-code/low-code Automation Success Platform .
The initiative aligns with PM Modi's pledge on 80th Independence Day to train one crore Indians in AI.
The MoU was signed under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel , with Minister Arjun Modhwadia presiding over the ceremony.
Gujarat's Department of Science and Technology has signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with enterprise automation firm Automation Anywhere, under which the company will provide approximately ₹100 crore in financial support for Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, capacity building, and emerging technology initiatives across the state. The agreement was formalised in Gandhinagar on 17 August in the presence of Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia.
Key Details of the Agreement
Automation Anywhere Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Ankur Kothari represented the company at the signing ceremony. The MoU targets a broad cross-section of beneficiaries — students, youth, government employees, MSMEs, startups, and academic institutions across Gujarat.
As part of the collaboration, the firm will fund and deliver AI and Machine Learning awareness and capacity-building programmes in the form of training sessions, workshops, seminars, webinars, boot camps, and certification courses. Trainers, subject matter experts, and mentors will be deployed by the company at its own cost.
What Participants Will Receive
Trainees will gain access to Community Edition licences of Automation Anywhere's no-code and low-code Automation Success Platform, enabling hands-on experience with real automation tools. The company will also supply training curricula, learning materials, and a structured certification framework for all programmes.
The Department of Science and Technology will coordinate with government departments, educational institutions, youth groups, industry bodies, startups, and other stakeholders to implement the programmes. The state government will provide venues and necessary infrastructure wherever feasible.
What the Government Said
Minister Arjun Modhwadia linked the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement during the 80th Independence Day celebrations of a nationwide programme to provide AI training to approximately one crore young people across India. 'The agreement would contribute to strengthening Gujarat's AI ecosystem by bringing together the government, industry and academic institutions,' he said.
Modhwadia added that the MoU was signed under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to promote AI awareness, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This positions Gujarat as an early mover among states aligning their skilling agendas with the Centre's national AI push.
Officials Present at the Signing
Also in attendance were Kavita Shah, Director of ICT and e-Governance at the Department of Science and Technology; Sanjay Rohtagi, Senior Vice-President (APJ) at Automation Anywhere; and Neville Shukla, Strategy Business Director at the firm.
Expected Impact
The decade-long partnership is expected to expand the pool of AI-skilled professionals in Gujarat while raising awareness of automation technologies among government employees, students, MSMEs, and startups. With the ₹100 crore commitment spread over 10 years, the programme's sustained, phased nature distinguishes it from shorter-term skilling drives. How effectively the state translates training completions into employment outcomes will determine the initiative's real-world impact.
Point of View
10-year skilling MoU is structurally more credible than the short-burst training drives Indian states typically announce — but the proof will be in measurable outcomes, not enrolment numbers. Gujarat's alignment with PM Modi's one-crore AI training pledge is politically astute, yet the real question is whether certifications translate into jobs or productivity gains for MSMEs. Automation Anywhere's no-code platform lowers the entry barrier, but enterprise automation skills without matching employer demand risk producing paper credentials. The state has the infrastructure and political will; what it needs is a public outcomes dashboard that tracks trainees beyond the classroom.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat–Automation Anywhere MoU about?
It is a 10-year agreement signed on 17 August in Gandhinagar under which Automation Anywhere will provide approximately ₹100 crore in financial support for AI and Machine Learning training, capacity building, and awareness programmes across Gujarat. Beneficiaries include students, government employees, MSMEs, startups, and academic institutions.
How much will Automation Anywhere invest under this MoU?
Automation Anywhere will provide approximately ₹100 crore in financial support spread over the 10-year period. In addition, the company will deploy trainers, subject matter experts, and mentors at its own cost and supply training curricula and certification frameworks.
Who will benefit from the Gujarat AI training programme?
The programme targets a wide range of groups including students, youth, government officers and employees, MSMEs, startups, and academic institutions across Gujarat. Trainees will also receive access to Community Edition licences of Automation Anywhere's Automation Success Platform for hands-on practice.
How does this MoU connect to PM Modi's AI training announcement?
Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia explicitly linked the MoU to PM Modi's announcement during the 80th Independence Day celebrations of a nationwide programme to train approximately one crore young people in AI. Gujarat positions this agreement as a state-level step in support of that broader national objective.
What kinds of training will be offered under the agreement?
The collaboration will deliver training programmes, workshops, seminars, webinars, boot camps, and certification courses in AI, Machine Learning, and emerging technologies. The Department of Science and Technology will coordinate implementation with government departments, educational institutions, industry bodies, and startups.
