Challenge

For a student who cannot read conventional print, a textbook is only useful if someone or something can make its contents accessible. In India, blind and print-disabled learners often depend on Braille editions, scribes or sighted volunteers to read notes, sit examinations and complete everyday tasks.

Yet, fewer materials in Braille are available beyond secondary school, making it harder for students to advance their education. Digital assistive devices can help, but imported AI-powered readers costing US$3,000 to US$4,000 remain far beyond the reach of many families and schools.

Solution

Torchit developed Jyoti AI to place more of that information directly in the user’s hands, with the goal of providing independence, dignity, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

The portable reading platform uses artificial intelligence and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to interpret printed text, handwriting, tables, links and images. It can translate and summarise material, then deliver it through audio or save it in accessible formats including HTML, PDF and text files.

Jyoti AI works both online and offline, making it practical in rural areas where reliable internet access cannot be assumed. It recognises English and Indian regional languages, extending its usefulness across classrooms, workplaces and public spaces.

The platform has evolved rapidly, expanding from five AI features in 2023 to more than 37 in 2026. Yet its defining innovation may be its price. At approximately INR20,000, or US$240, it costs more than 90 per cent less than comparable imported devices. The device also has an expected lifespan of three to five years and includes warranty support, which only increases its economical value for users.

Torchit sells Jyoti AI directly to individuals and institutions, while partnerships with companies, governments and non-governmental organisations fund deployments in schools and underserved communities. More than 100 trainers, including people with disabilities, help users adopt the technology.

This combination of affordable hardware, local manufacturing and field support is designed to make accessibility scalable rather than exclusive, and uplift the futures of those with disabilities.

Impact

Since its launch in June 2023, Jyoti AI has reached more than 400,000 visually impaired and print-disabled users across India and beyond. It is used in schools, higher education and workplaces, enabling students to read textbooks and handwritten notes while helping professionals access documents without assistance.

Torchit reports that more than 1,500 blind students have used its technology to sit examinations without scribes. For users, that can mean greater privacy, control and independence during moments that shape their education and future.

Meanwhile, production costs have fallen by more than 30 per cent since launch, strengthening the commercial case for reaching more users without pushing the technology further out of reach.

Future Outlook

From 2026 to 2027, Torchit aims to reach 100,000 users, introduce Jyoti AI in more than 500 inclusive schools and enter three additional developing countries. It also plans to reduce manufacturing costs by another 15 per cent to further increase affordability.

By 2030, the company is targeting one million users and more than 150 assistive resource centres. Structured AI learning modules and subscription-based updates are intended to improve the platform while generating recurring revenue.

The larger goal is simple: to ensure that the ability to read, learn and work no longer depends on being able to see the page.