National Missions
The National Mission on Natural Language Translation (BHASHINI) is a significant initiative launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The primary goal of this mission is to bridge the language barrier in the digital space by ensuring that every citizen has access to digital services in their native languages. The initiative is designed to facilitate the development of tools and technologies that allow for seamless communication across multiple languages.
Key features of BHASHINI include:
(i) Multilingual Accessibility: The mission focuses on ensuring that digital content and services are accessible in more than 22 Indian languages, allowing for voice-based and text-based interactions.
(ii) Development of Open-Source AI Models: BHASHINI aims to create open-source AI models that can be freely used by developers, startups, and institutions to build applications that address the diverse linguistic needs of India.
(iii) Crowdsourced Data for Language Improvement: The initiative encourages citizens to contribute linguistic data, such as voice recordings and translations, through a crowdsourcing model called ‘Bhasha Daan.’ This will help in improving the accuracy and scope of translation models.
(iv) Integration with Digital Platforms: The mission seeks to integrate language translation technologies into various digital platforms, including government services, e-commerce, and educational resources, to ensure broader access and inclusivity.
BHASHINI is managed by the Digital India Corporation (DIC) under MeitY and is already being used in real-world applications, including live translations of speeches by prominent leaders. As the mission expands, it will continue to enhance the accuracy of translation models and promote the development of multilingual digital ecosystems.