NEW DELHI. India’s Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the beta version of ‘Adi Vaani’, the country’s first artificial intelligence-powered translator for tribal languages, to preserve indigenous heritage and enhance access to education, healthcare, and governance. Developed by a consortium led by IIT Delhi, the platform initially supports Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi, with Kui and Garo in progress. The service is live at [https://adivaani.tribal.gov.in](https://adivaani.tribal.gov.in), with a mobile version coming soon. Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said the initiative would help bridge communication gaps in remote communities and empower tribal youth, while Secretary Vibhu Nayar described it as a cost-effective innovation developed at one-tenth the cost of commercial alternatives, using linguistic data from state Tribal Research Institutes.
Adi Vaani offers real-time translation between Hindi, English, and tribal languages, digitizes folklore and oral traditions, and provides subtitled advisories, including health messages and speeches. Featuring a feedback system for community participation and continuous improvement, the platform aligns with key national missions such as Digital India, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, PM JANMAN, Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Expected to empower over 20 lakh tribal change leaders, the initiative represents a major step toward building an inclusive, knowledge-driven Viksit Bharat by 2047.
