India Launches Adi Vaani: Country’s First AI-Powered Translator for Tribal Languages.
National
On August 31, 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs unveiled the beta version of Adi Vaani—India’s pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered translation tool for tribal languages—designed to bridge communication gaps, preserve endangered dialects, and support inclusive education, digital literacy, and governance in tribal communities.
- Adi Vaani was developed under the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh initiative by a consortium of premier institutions including IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Naya Raipur, alongside Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya—a unique collaboration combining AI expertise with community-driven linguistic knowledge.
- The beta application is currently available on the Google Play Store, with an iOS version on the way. It enables real-time text and speech translation between Hindi/English and tribal languages, starting with Santali (Odisha), Bhili (Madhya Pradesh), Mundari (Jharkhand), and Gondi (Chhattisgarh). Plans are underway to add more languages in future versions.
Main Point :- (i) Adi Vaani supports text-to-speech conversion and allows users—including tribal students and educators—to translate Hindi or English educational content (such as NCERT textbooks) into their native tongues. It also features culturally relevant content like folklore, oral traditions, government scheme information, and health advisories (e.g., around sickle cell anemia), making it a powerful tool for learning and communication.
(ii) The initiative aligns with key national programs like Digital India, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, and PM Janman. It also reinforces constitutional mandates (Articles 29 and 350A) for preserving cultural and linguistic diversity while promoting inclusive empowerment for tribal populations.
(iii) In a broader roadmap for tribal development, the Ministry has emphasized ramping up Adi Vaani alongside Adi Sanskriti—a portal for art, traditions, and cultural preservation—integrating state-level documentation of low-resource languages, governance communication, and educational outreach in tribal areas through an inter-ministerial, technology-driven strategy.
About Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)
Minister : Shri Jual Oram
Headquarters: New Delhi
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