Archive · 7 Aug 2026
J&K CM launches AI centre, Project Phoenix for youth entrepreneurship
A big leader, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, opened two new programmes in Jammu and Kashmir.
One is an AI centre at a famous engineering college called IIT Jammu.
AI is a kind of smart computer that can learn and help people.
The centre will try to use AI to solve problems in Jammu and Kashmir.
For example, it could give better weather warnings before heavy rain or floods.
It could also help doctors check patients who live far away from hospitals.
The other programme is called Project Phoenix.
It will help young people start their own businesses by giving them training and advice.
The leader said government jobs alone cannot fix unemployment, so helping people start businesses is important.
He also said traditional crafts like handloom should be supported all year, not just on special days.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the new AI Centre of Excellence at IIT Jammu will develop technology-driven solutions to the union territory's challenges.
The AI Centre of Excellence was established jointly by the Government of India, the Jammu and Kashmir government and IIT Jammu.
Project Phoenix aims to identify entrepreneurs and support them with mentorship, market access and training to promote self-employment.
Abdullah said AI could improve remote-area education, help diagnose diseases where specialists are unavailable, detect orchard diseases early and improve location-specific weather forecasts.
Project Phoenix will work alongside the government's Mission YUVA scheme, and Abdullah urged year-round promotion of handloom and handicrafts.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; the AI Centre of Excellence at IIT Jammu; the Government of India
- What
- Launch of an AI Centre of Excellence at IIT Jammu and the Project Phoenix entrepreneurship programme
- When
- Thursday, August 7
- Where
- Jammu (IIT Jammu), Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Why
- To develop technology-driven solutions to the UT's challenges and promote self-employment and entrepreneurship among youth
- Event
- Launch of AI Centre of Excellence and Project Phoenix
- Location
- IIT Jammu, Jammu
- Date
- August 7 (Thursday)
- Established by
- Government of India, Jammu and Kashmir government and IIT Jammu
- Project Phoenix objective
- Identify entrepreneurs; provide mentorship, market access and training
- Partner scheme
- Mission YUVA
- Priority challenges for AI
- Remote education, disease diagnosis, orchard diseases, location-specific weather forecasts
- Other focus
- Year-round promotion of handloom and handicrafts