The Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed an agreement on 2 November 2026 to give one lakh students free training in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. Announced by Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu in Hyderabad, the Telangana AI and Cloud Skilling Initiative will cover 643 TASK-affiliated colleges at no cost to the state, colleges or students.
The agreement was signed at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat. It is the latest in a run of Telangana education technology moves, after the state’s facial recognition-led Special Attendance Month in government schools.
What the Telangana AI skilling programme offers students
According to the minister, students will get industry-oriented training in five areas:
- Artificial intelligence
- Cloud computing
- Data engineering
- Machine learning
- Generative AI
Learners will work hands-on in the AWS Cloud Console and receive one year of free access to more than 900 digital courses on AWS Skill Builder. Discount vouchers for global certification exams are also part of the package, along with industry connect sessions with technology experts and hackathons.
Tracks for arts and commerce students, training for faculty
The initiative is not limited to engineering and science. The state said specialised learning tracks will be offered to students of non-STEM streams such as arts and commerce, widening AI literacy beyond technical campuses.
Faculty members from participating colleges will also be trained in AI and cloud technologies, so that colleges can carry the skills into regular teaching. TASK will hold special job fairs for eligible students who complete the training.
Why it matters for skilling in Telangana
TASK, a not-for-profit set up by the state’s IT department, already works with industry partners to make graduates job-ready, as listed on the Telangana IT department’s TASK page. The AWS tie-up adds scale: one lakh students in a single programme, with certification and placement support built in.
It also builds on Amazon’s earlier work with the state at school level, where Amazon and Telangana partnered to bring AI education to government schools. Other states are moving in the same direction, from Uttar Pradesh’s ₹1,725 crore Sardar Patel skill scheme with AI and robotics training to Gujarat’s Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence.
Key takeaways
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- TASK and AWS will train one lakh Telangana students in AI and cloud computing free of cost.
- Students in 643 TASK-affiliated colleges get AWS Cloud Console access, 900+ Skill Builder courses for a year and certification vouchers.
- Arts and commerce students get dedicated tracks, faculty get training, and TASK will run job fairs for those who finish.
FAQ
Who can join the Telangana AI and Cloud Skilling Initiative?
Students of the 643 colleges affiliated with TASK, across engineering, science, arts and commerce streams, are eligible, according to the state government.
Do students have to pay for the training?
No. The minister said the programme carries no financial burden for the state government, the colleges or the students.
Featured image: Telangana IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu with TASK and AWS officials at the agreement signing in Hyderabad. Photo: Deccan Chronicle
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