Adi Vaani AI Translator Empowering Tribal Languages

Protecting Endangered Dialects

Adi Vaani AI Translator Empowering Tribal Languages: India’s cultural map includes 461 tribal languages and 71 mother tongues. A large portion of these are under threat, with 81 classified as vulnerable and 42 considered critically endangered. To safeguard them, the government introduced Adi Vaani, the first AI-based translator dedicated to tribal communities, ensuring their survival in the digital ecosystem.

Static GK fact: While the Constitution recognizes 22 official languages in the Eighth Schedule, most tribal dialects remain outside it.

Launched Under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh

The translator was rolled out as part of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, an initiative that honours tribal contributions to India’s heritage. It highlights the government’s efforts to combine technology with cultural preservation, reinforcing equity and inclusiveness.

Research and Technology Collaboration

Adi Vaani is powered by modern AI systems like IndicTrans2 and No Language Left Behind (NLLB). The project was coordinated by IIT Delhi in partnership with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Nava Raipur, and several Tribal Research Institutes. This collective approach links advanced research with community-driven insights.

Static GK fact: IIT Delhi was set up in 1961 and is among the leading higher education institutes recognized globally.

Core Functionalities

The platform includes a range of tools such as:

• Two-way text and speech translations
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for preserving manuscripts
• Digital repositories and dictionaries for linguistic knowledge
• Subtitling tools for awareness campaigns and official use

These functions help preserve folklore, digitize rare scripts, and make governance accessible to tribal populations.

Supported Languages in Beta Phase

The Beta version currently works with Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi. Work is in progress to add Kui, Garo, and other tribal languages, ensuring a gradual but sustainable rollout.

Static GK fact: Santali uses the Ol Chiki script, which was created in 1925 by Raghunath Murmu.

Tribal Participation in Development

The project’s authenticity comes from direct involvement of tribal communities. They assisted in building datasets, validating language accuracy, and ensuring cultural relevance, making the platform a true reflection of indigenous identity.

Benefits Across Sectors

Adi Vaani is expected to enhance:

• Education by providing digital learning in local dialects
• Healthcare communication in native languages
• Government outreach through scheme translations
• Awareness campaigns in regional contexts

It is also being used to share advisories about sickle cell anemia, a disease with higher prevalence in tribal regions.

Integration with National Programmes

Adi Vaani contributes to Digital India, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, and PM JANMAN. It represents India’s use of artificial intelligence for social good, while upholding the principles of diversity and equality enshrined in the Constitution.

Static GK fact: The Digital India mission was launched in July 2015 to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

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