Nearly 29,800 of the 2.3 lakh learners enrolled in four artificial intelligence (AI) courses launched in July 2025 under the government’s Skilling for AI Ready (SOAR) program have been certified so far – about 13%, according to data shared by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Jayant Chaudhary, with the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Although Chaudhry, in his response to queries on SOAR by 16 MPs from different parties, did not specify the reasons behind the low certification rate, MSDE officials familiar with the matter said that certification rates under SOAR are in line with global standards for free and open access digital learning platforms such as massive open online courses (MOOCs) where completion rates typically range between 5 to 15%. They said many learners may have paused assessment or course completion after enrolling.
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Chaudhary told Lok Sabha that the SOAR program includes four courses – AI to be aware, AI to aspire, AI to acquire and AI to teachers in the first phase. He said that the initiative aims to build institutional awareness and preparedness in artificial intelligence among learners, teachers and citizens.
“The program is delivered through self-paced online courses hosted on Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), ensuring nationwide accessibility,” he said.
According to the data shared by Chaudhary in Parliament, the four courses together recorded 2,30,901 registrations, while 29,771 learners were certified, which translates to an overall certification rate of around 12.9%.
Course analysis shows that ‘SOAR – AI to be Aware’ recorded the highest participation with 1,16,813 registrations and 15,643 certifications, which translates to a certification rate of 13.4%. The “SOAR – AI to Aspire” course witnessed the registration of 43,736 people, of whom 5,885 participants obtained an accredited certificate, or about 13.4%. Meanwhile, the “SOAR – AI to Acquire” program received 29,725 registrations and 4,065 certificates, reflecting a completion rate of 13.7%. The “SOAR – AI for Educators” course recorded 40,627 registrations, with 4,178 participants certified, or about 10.3% – the lowest of all four courses.
“The three core modules – AI to be Aware, AI to Aspire, and AI to Acquire – show a consistent range of certifications between 13.4 and 13.7%, indicating stable learner engagement patterns. The AI to be Aware module has the highest enrollment rate because it serves as an introductory entry point for learners exploring the fundamentals of AI. The AI for Educators pathway shows a slightly lower certification rate because it is aimed at working professionals, who must balance the course with full-time teaching responsibilities. Similar patterns are commonly observed in professional development programs globally, an MSDE official said, requesting anonymity.
The four SOAR courses – AI to be Aware, AI to Aspire, and AI to Acquire, each designed as 15-hour modules for students, and AI for Educators, a 45-hour module for educators – were launched by MSDE on July 22, 2025. The program introduces learners to the fundamentals of AI, generative AI, real-world applications of AI, programming fundamentals, ethics, cybersecurity, and emerging career opportunities in the field.
Under the SOAR programme, certification is awarded after participants complete the online course modules and pass the required assessments on the digital platform. The certification, issued by MSDE under Skill India Mission in collaboration with industry partners like Microsoft and HCLTech, signifies that the learner has acquired fundamental knowledge of AI concepts, applications and responsible use.
