Soni highlighted that the collaborations underscore YouTube’s commitment to “democratizing technology” and empowering India’s rapidly growing base of digital creators
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In a significant push towards strengthening India’s creator economy, Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director of YouTube India, has announced two landmark partnerships with the Government of India focused on AI skilling and cultural preservation.
Sharing the update, Soni highlighted that the collaborations underscore YouTube’s commitment to “democratizing technology” and empowering India’s rapidly growing base of digital creators.
The initiative has been rolled out in partnership with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), aligning with the broader vision of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. As part of this effort, YouTube will offer 15,000 free scholarships aimed at equipping the next generation of storytellers and digital professionals with future-ready AI capabilities. The program will cover areas such as animation, visual effects, and emerging digital tools.
In a parallel development, YouTube has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Culture under the guidance of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. This partnership focuses on supporting India’s folk, tribal, and classical artists through digital skilling, copyright education, and monetisation strategies.
The initiative aims to combine the government’s cultural infrastructure with YouTube’s global distribution network to ensure traditional art forms are preserved while also reaching wider, younger audiences.
Soni noted that these collaborations are designed to remove barriers for creators,whether through cutting-edge AI tools or by bringing centuries-old cultural expressions into the digital mainstream. “Technology is at its best when it enables access and opportunity,” she said, emphasizing the platform’s role in building a more inclusive digital ecosystem.
The partnerships reflect a broader shift in India’s creative economy, where policy, platforms, and technology are increasingly converging to unlock new opportunities for both emerging and traditional creators.