Kalaa Setu Challenge: AI Startups to Power India's Multilingual Digital Future

In a decisive move to transform public communication and digital governance in India, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), through its WaveX Startup Accelerator platform, has launched the “Kalaa Setu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat” Challenge. This initiative is part of the government’s broader vision to foster inclusive, citizen-centric communication by integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies that support multilingual content generation in real time.

Why Language Matters in Digital Governance

As India embraces a digital-first governance model, the need to communicate in citizens’ native languages has grown more urgent. The vast linguistic diversity—comprising 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of dialects—presents a monumental challenge to ensuring that official information reaches every citizen effectively. Traditional content creation methods are labor-intensive and often unable to meet the speed, scale, and linguistic breadth required in today’s dynamic digital environment.

Kalaa Setu directly addresses this challenge by encouraging the development of indigenous, AI-powered tools that enable real-time content transformation—bridging the digital language divide and facilitating last-mile delivery of critical information across Bharat.

Three Pillars of the Kalaa Setu Challenge

The Kalaa Setu initiative invites startups to build scalable AI solutions across three key domains:

1. Text-to-Video Generation AI-driven systems that convert written content into video formats, customized with regionally relevant backdrops, characters, tones, and languages. These tools will empower ministries and local governments to generate multilingual explainer videos on topics like new schemes, disaster alerts, or public health advisories.

2. Text-to-Graphics Generation Startups are encouraged to build tools that generate real-time infographics and visual content from structured or unstructured data. These graphics will be essential in simplifying complex statistics and policy details for broader understanding—ideal for platforms like social media, newspapers, and television.

3. Text-to-Audio Generation Leveraging speech synthesis, this vertical focuses on producing high-quality voiceovers and audio capsules that reflect regional accents, emotions, and speech cadences. It holds transformative potential for sectors like community radio, phone-based information systems, and public announcements.

Citizen-Centric Outcomes

The Kalaa Setu challenge is engineered for real-world impact. Applications span across vital sectors and population segments:

• Farmers can receive timely weather updates and agricultural advisories in their local languages via video or audio.

• Students can access curriculum updates, exam schedules, and e-learning content in formats they understand best.

• Senior citizens can receive health scheme updates through familiar voice messages or explanatory videos.

• People with disabilities can benefit from alternative content formats that are easier to perceive and understand.

This democratization of information ensures greater inclusivity, breaking down barriers of literacy, digital access, and regional disparity.

Application Process and Benefits

Interested startups can apply via the WaveX portal under the “Kalaa Setu” challenge category. The key application requirements are:

• Submission of a working Minimum Viable Concept (MVC) by July 30, 2025.

• A video demo showcasing the product’s functionality and user experience.

• Solutions must demonstrate support for multiple Indian languages, scalability, and practical usability.

Incentives for Selected Startups:

• Opportunity to present to a national jury in New Delhi.

• Chance to sign an MoU for full-scale development with MIB.

• Pilot implementation support with All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan (DD), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

• Incubation and mentorship under the WaveX Innovation Platform, which includes funding access, investor connects, and technical resources.

Bhasha Setu Challenge Also Open

In addition to Kalaa Setu, startups can also apply for the ‘Bhasha Setu’ challenge, launched on June 30, 2025, under WaveX. This parallel initiative focuses specifically on real-time translation technologies—including speech-to-text, text-to-text, and speech-to-speech models across Indian languages.

The last date to apply for Bhasha Setu is July 22, 2025, via the same WaveX portal.

Together, Kalaa Setu and Bhasha Setu create a powerful synergy, covering both content generation and language translation, thus building a robust foundation for India’s AI-powered communication ecosystem.

About WaveX and the WAVES Initiative

WaveX is the flagship startup accelerator platform launched under the WAVES (Women, Audio, Visual, Entertainment, and Speech) Initiative by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The platform aims to nurture AI and media-tech innovation in domains such as language technology, digital storytelling, visual communication, and broadcasting.

At the WAVES Summit held in Mumbai (May 2025), WaveX attracted participation from over 30 startups who pitched their ideas to key stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and media houses. WaveX continues to facilitate growth through targeted hackathons, incubation programs, and integration opportunities with national platforms.

Building a Multilingual, Digital Bharat

With India poised to become one of the world's largest digital democracies, language inclusion is not just a technological aspiration—it is a democratic necessity. The Kalaa Setu and Bhasha Setu challenges exemplify the government’s proactive approach to integrating AI innovation with cultural diversity.

By enabling real-time, AI-driven communication in every Indian language, these initiatives reaffirm the government’s vision of a digitally empowered, inclusive Bharat, where every voice matters and every citizen is heard.