Govt Launches “Kalaa Setu” Challenge to Spur AI-Driven, Multilingual Content Creation

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, via its WaveX startup accelerator, today unveiled the “Kalaa Setu – Real‑Time Language Tech for Bharat” challenge, aimed at empowering Indian AI startups to build scalable tools for automatic generation of multilingual multimedia content.

The national competition seeks innovative solutions that convert text into video, graphics, and audio, supporting multiple Indian languages with real-time delivery. The initiative is expected to enhance government outreach by personalising communication for farmers, students, and senior citizens in their local tongues.

Startups are invited to apply via the WaveX portal and submit a working Minimum Viable Concept by July 30, 2025, along with a video demo. Successful teams will pitch their solutions to a national jury in New Delhi.

Winners will receive a memorandum of understanding for pilot deployment with All India Radio, Doordarshan, and Press Information Bureau, along with incubation support.

The launch also recalled the ongoing “Bhasha Setu” real-time translation challenge, open for applications until July 22, 2025.

These twin initiatives reflect the government's commitment to closing linguistic and digital divides. By tapping into AI-powered content generation and translation, the schemes aspire to ensure information reaches the farthest corners of the country in formats that resonate culturally and linguistically.

About WaveX: Created under the WAVES Summit in May 2025, WaveX fosters innovation in media, entertainment, and language technology. It provides incubation, mentorship, hackathons, and pitching opportunities to startups, facilitating collaboration with government agencies and investors.