IIT Delhi signs ₹9 crore Walmart deal for AI research and student fellowships
By TUF News Desk · Published 6 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has signed a four-year partnership with Walmart Global Tech worth about ₹9 crore. The deal covers research, teaching and talent development in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, and it was signed on 6 November between the institute’s Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence and the retail company’s technology arm.
Around ₹2.3 crore of the total is set aside for the current financial year, according to an official notification. The partnership is with WM Global Technology Services India Private Limited, the company behind Walmart Global Tech.
What the partnership will fund
The money will pay for fellowships for student researchers, faculty development and teacher training that carries AI teaching beyond the IIT Delhi campus. It will also strengthen the school’s research infrastructure and open learning opportunities to industry professionals and learners from underrepresented communities.
Jayant Jain, dean of corporate relations at IIT Delhi, said industry partnerships help strengthen research, innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship. “We are pleased to partner with Walmart Global Tech and look forward to creating meaningful and lasting impact through this collaboration,” he said.
Balu Chaturvedula, senior vice-president and country head at Walmart Global Tech, said the opportunity now is “to build the depth of research, engineering and education that allows that talent to shape technology with lasting relevance.” He added that the partnership would support researchers, expand pathways for students and strengthen the educators who pass the capability on.
A school built around applied AI
The Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence, known as ScAI, was set up in September 2020. It brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI in areas such as healthcare and robotics, and the partnership is expected to build a lasting pipeline of AI researchers and educators through its fellowships, faculty development and teacher training.
The Walmart deal follows a similar arrangement with Wipro, which set up a Centre of Excellence on generative AI anchored at the Yardi School. That centre works as a research hub where Wipro researchers and ScAI faculty and graduate students tackle real-world problems together.
Walmart’s wider work with Indian institutes
Walmart Global Tech is not new to Indian campuses. It already works with IIT Madras on a centre that helps small manufacturers adopt AI and digital tools.
For the institute’s own announcements, see IIT Delhi’s official website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIT Delhi-Walmart Global Tech partnership?
A four-year partnership between IIT Delhi’s Yardi School of AI and Walmart Global Tech, worth about ₹9 crore, covering artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science research, education and talent development.
How much funding is involved, and when does it start?
The partnership is valued at about ₹9 crore over four years, with around ₹2.3 crore earmarked for the current financial year. It was signed on 6 November 2026.
What will students get from the deal?
Dedicated fellowships for student researchers, along with faculty development and teacher training that extends AI teaching beyond the IIT Delhi campus.
What is the Yardi School of AI?
IIT Delhi’s School of Artificial Intelligence, set up in September 2020, which brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI applications in areas such as healthcare and robotics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIT Delhi-Walmart Global Tech partnership?
A four-year partnership between IIT Delhi's Yardi School of AI and Walmart Global Tech, worth about ₹9 crore, covering artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science research, education and talent development.
How much funding is involved, and when does it start?
The partnership is valued at about ₹9 crore over four years, with around ₹2.3 crore earmarked for the current financial year. It was signed on 6 November 2026.
What will students get from the deal?
Dedicated fellowships for student researchers, along with faculty development and teacher training that extends AI teaching beyond the IIT Delhi campus.
What is the Yardi School of AI?
IIT Delhi's School of Artificial Intelligence, set up in September 2020, which brings together faculty from different departments to work on AI applications in areas such as healthcare and robotics.
Sources: Careers360, Elets digitalLEARNING