upGrad Launches Generative AI Certification in Partnership with Microsoft and NSDC

Mumbai/New Delhi: upGrad, an integrated learning platforms, has announced the launch of ‘U&AI’—a first-of-its-kind Generative AI Certification program developed in collaboration with Microsoft. Backed by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the initiative is designed to skill one million Indian learners in AI technologies over the next 12 months, addressing the country’s growing demand for future-ready digital talent.

The Generative AI Certification course, available at an industry-first price point of ₹499, aims to democratize access to foundational and advanced AI education. The program supports India’s vision of becoming an AI-first economy by ensuring wide-scale learning accessibility, both through content delivery in five languages and NSDC’s robust partner network.

Commenting on the launch, Mayank Kumar, Co-founder, upGrad, said, “With AI rapidly becoming integral to our daily lives, ‘U&AI’ is designed to bring AI literacy into every home and workplace. We’re proud to partner with Microsoft and NSDC to offer this career-transforming opportunity at a price accessible to all. The goal is to empower learners with skills that are relevant today and essential tomorrow.”

Generative AI Certification Program

The two-week foundation course includes modules on Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, hands-on use of Microsoft’s AI suite, and access to “Productivity GPT,” a custom AI chatbot designed for real-time learning application. Participants will also receive a joint certification from upGrad and NSDC upon completion.

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International, noted: “Generative AI Certification initiative is an important step toward bridging the skilling-employability gap. We are preparing India’s youth for a global digital future by offering forward-looking, accessible education solutions.”

Venkat Krishnan, Executive Director, Public Sector, Healthcare, and Education at Microsoft, added: “AI is the defining technology of our era. Through this collaboration, we aim to unlock India’s potential by enabling scalable, impactful AI education.”

First announced during Satya Nadella’s visit to India in January 2025, the now-live program is also being extended to Vietnam in the local language, marking a regional step toward upskilling the global workforce.