At the Google for India 2020 online event, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Google will invest 75,000 crores (approximately US$10 billion) to advance India’s digitization over the coming 5-7 years. This investment will be through a mix of equity investments, partnerships, operations, infrastructure and ecosystem investments.
The fund will focus on the following areas that are important to India’s digitization:
- Enabling affordable access to the internet and to information for every Indian in their own language,
- Building new products and services that are deeply relevant to India’s unique needs including consumer tech, education, health and agriculture;
- Empowering businesses especially small and medium businesses as they continue or embark on their digital transformation;
- Leveraging technology and AI for social good, including digital literacy, outbreak predictions, and support for rural economies.
Partnership with CBSE to train 1 million teachers on digital tools
Google has announced a new partnership with CBSE, Skill Education and Training. By the end of 2020, Google will enable over 1 million teachers in 22,000 schools across India to deliver blended learning that combines the classroom approach with online learning, using free tools like G Suite for Education, Google Classroom, YouTube and more.
$1 million grant to train 700,000 teachers
Google has announced new grant of $1M USD to Kaivalya Education Foundation (KEF) from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, as part of the Global Distance Learning Fund. Using these funds, KEF will work with the Central Square Foundation and TeacherApp to train 700,000 teachers to deliver virtual education for vulnerable students so that they can continue learning at home. “Where families don’t have access to the internet or a smartphone, other channels including TV and radio will be used to reach these children,” said Google.
Partnership with Prasar Bharati
Google has launched the ‘Grow with Google Small Business hub’ in India, a single destination where businesses can access digital tools to maintain business continuity, find resources like quick help videos, and learn digital skills–in both English and in Hindi.
It is partnering with Prasar Bharati to launch an edutainment series across its network, designed to help business owners adapt to the evolving challenges of COVID-19 with online tools, learn from other companies, and plan for the long-term future.