New Delhi, September 17: The Central government on Monday launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions Challenge, where it invited startups to develop solutions to challenges in healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, smart mobility and natural language processing.

According to a Livemint report, the top 15 startups will be given an opportunity to showcase their solution at a virtual global summit on AI—RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment) 2020—in October. In addition to this, the winner will also receive Rs 20 lakh award. The government will also be adopting their solution to wherever they can.

The aim is to make these startups self-reliant at a time when India has banned 118 Chinese apps over security concerns. The government has been urging Indian startups to come forward and fill the gap.

Last month, Ravi Shankar Prasad launched “Chunauti”- Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest to further boost startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns of India. The government earmarked a budget of Rs. 95 Crore over a period of three years for this programme. The aim is to identify around 300 startups working in identified areas and provide them seed fund of upto Rs. 25 Lakh and other facilities