Python is the most popular language for data science and ML.
Step 1: Install Anaconda — it bundles Python + Jupyter Notebook.
Step 2: Learn the core libraries — NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-Learn.
Step 3: Work with real datasets from Kaggle.
Step 4: Build projects from scratch.
Step 5: Join Kaggle forums and Reddit r/learnmachinelearning.
Good luck on your data science journey!