Pragati: AI for impact

Supporting nonprofits to harness AI for impactful change

Pragati AI is a CSR initiative of Meta, powered by The/Nudge Institute, bridging the AI divide by empowering nonprofits to design and deploy open-source AI solutions for underserved communities in agriculture, healthcare, and skilling.

 In its latest edition, Pragati AI for Impact supported nine pioneering nonprofits working across legal, education, finance, skilling, and healthcare. Each organization received grants ranging from INR 40 lakhs to 150 lakhs to strengthen AI development, IT infrastructure, capacity building, and institutional overheads. Alongside funding, the cohort benefited from masterclasses, workshops, and tailored mentoring by leading AI and social innovation experts, while gaining access to a collaborative ecosystem of funders, policymakers, and innovators. Together, these resources equipped nonprofit leaders with the technical, practical, and ethical guidance to build sustainable AI solutions and scale their social impact.

Meet our cohort

Building on the momentum of the cohort, Pragati AI also created platforms for dialogue and innovation—bringing together thought leaders and changemakers through a high-level roundtable and a nationwide hackathon to shape and showcase the future of AI for social impact.

Roundtable

On 19 February 2024, Meta and The/Nudge Institute hosted an invite-only roundtable in Bengaluru, uniting leaders from technology, policy, and the social sector to shape India’s AI future. The discussions called for foundational AI models built on Indian languages, cultures, and realities, powered by open-source systems and cost-reducing technologies. A community-first approach and localized regulatory frameworks were identified as critical to ensuring AI is inclusive, responsible, and impactful across healthcare, education, agriculture, and skilling.  

Hackathon

The Pragati AI for Impact Hackathon, hosted by The/Nudge Institute in partnership with Meta, brought together innovators to develop open-source AI solutions for education, healthcare, livelihoods, and agriculture. From over 1,000 registrations, 83 teams advanced to prototype development, supported by mentorship and GPU credits, with the top 10 presenting to a distinguished jury. Team CREW won for its dyslexia detection platform, Little BO1S secured first runner-up for an offline pregnancy risk assessment app, and AgriHeroes placed second for its livestock and aquaculture monitoring system, collectively receiving ₹7 lakhs in cash prizes and ₹3 lakhs in GPU credits.

AI for Impact Convening- 25th August 2025 

Co-hosted by Meta and The/Nudge Institute, this year’s convening in New Delhi will chart pathways toward a more inclusive and democratised AI ecosystem, aligned with the IndiaAI Mission. The dialogue will focus on India’s technology-led development journey, the power of open-source and community-driven innovation, and strategies to address challenges that risk widening the nation’s digital and AI divide. Leaders from across sectors will come together to exchange insights, shape collaborative roadmaps, and envision an AI future that serves all of India.

View the full agenda for the AI for Impact Convening here.  