AICTE translates 600 engineering textbooks into 12 Indian languages to bridge language gap

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has devised a comprehensive plan to make textbooks available in 12 Indian languages for all engineering diploma and degree courses by December 2026.

The initiative aims to bridge the language gap in technical education, making learning more accessible to students across the country.

According to AICTE Chairman Prof T G Sitharam, approximately 600 textbooks for engineering diploma and degree programs in the first and second years have already been written and translated into 12 regional languages.

These languages include Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

Textbooks for the third and fourth years are currently being developed.

"We have already completed the books for the first and second years—both diploma and degree. For the third and fourth years, work is in progress, with around 40 to 50 books already completed for the third year," he said.

AICTE governs both autonomous and university-affiliated technical institutions.

The textbooks cover core engineering disciplines—civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, and computer science—created in accordance with the AICTE model curriculum.

"These are state-of-the-art books developed to help students understand concepts in their mother tongue," Sitharam explained.

To make the material more organized and goal-oriented, each chapter in these books includes unit objectives, outcome-based learning components, and problem-solving activities.

AICTE is also leveraging artificial intelligence to expedite the translation process.

"We are using our deep learning model, which can translate a book in about 10 minutes with around 80 percent accuracy. Experts then review and correct the content," the chairman added.

Due to financial constraints, only 12 major languages are currently being prioritized, despite the Indian constitution recognizing 22 languages.

Sitharam explained that the program is designed to offer students who are more comfortable studying in their mother tongue an alternative, though it is not mandatory.

"We are not forcing any student to study in a regional language. This is about providing an option. Many students from rural areas are more comfortable studying in their mother tongue," he said.

Sitharam acknowledged the challenges related to the employability of students graduating after studying in regional languages but emphasized the government's commitment to making this model work.

"The challenge is obvious. The government will need to run awareness campaigns and encourage industries to give these students a chance. For many, English becomes a double burden—first, they have to learn the subject, and on top of that, learn a language. If they understand the subject well in their own language, they will be better engineers," he said.

He also pointed out that India shouldn't be an exception to the rule. Many countries, including Canada and Switzerland, allow students to pursue higher education in their native tongues, such as French or German.

According to Sitharam, this initiative will increase accessibility and inclusivity in engineering education, while also empowering students in rural and semi-urban areas.