What is Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform?
Bhashini (Digital India Bhasha Innovation Initiative) is a national public digital platform for AI-powered language technology in India's 22 scheduled languages. Launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Bhashini provides free open APIs for: (1) Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) — speech-to-text in all 22 Indian languages; (2) Text-to-Speech (TTS) — natural-sounding voice in 22 languages; (3) Machine Translation — translate between any of 22 Indian languages instantly; (4) Transliteration — convert text between scripts (e.g., Hindi in Roman → Devanagari). Bhashini's mission: Ensure government digital services are accessible to citizens in their own language — bridging the digital divide for the 1 billion Indians who do not speak English. Bhashini powers: PM-WANI (Wi-Fi) interface in regional languages, Common Service Centre services in 22 languages, DigiLocker in local languages, UMANG app in 13 languages, and 100+ government apps. Developers can use Bhashini APIs for FREE to build Indian-language applications.
Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | Bhashini 2026 — Digital India Language AI Platform: Free Translation & Speech in 22 Languages |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2022 |
| Benefit | Free AI translation/speech APIs for 22 Indian languages + Used in government services (CSC/DigiLocker/UMANG) for citizen accessibility + Open-source language datasets for researchers + Digital inclusion for non-English speakers |
| Category | Education |
| Last Verified | 27 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://bhashini.gov.in |
Benefits of Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform
Free AI translation/speech APIs for 22 Indian languages + Used in government services (CSC/DigiLocker/UMANG) for citizen accessibility + Open-source language datasets for researchers + Digital inclusion for non-English speakers
Who is Eligible for Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform?
- ✓Any Indian citizen can use Bhashini-powered services in their native language through government apps
- ✓Developers/startups/companies: Free API access at bhashini.gov.in (registration required)
- ✓Research institutions: Can contribute training data to improve Bhashini AI models + receive credit
- ✓Government departments: Free integration of Bhashini APIs into their citizen-facing digital services
Documents Required for Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform
How to Apply for Bhashini — Indian Language AI Platform Online?
- 1For citizens: Use Bhashini-powered services in your language through UMANG, DigiLocker, CSC, PM-KISAN apps
- 2For developers: Register at bhashini.gov.in → Get free API credentials → Integrate in your app
- 3For government departments: Contact MeitY/Digital India Corporation for Bhashini integration support
- 4Contribute voice data: bhashini.gov.in/contribute — record 10 minutes of speech in your language + receive digital certificate
Official Government Portal
Applications go through bhashini.gov.in only. Applying is free of charge — no agent, middleman or "consultant" is ever required.
🔗Apply on bhashini.gov.in