Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the formal integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school and higher education curricula across India. The Centre will introduce AI as a dedicated skill subject in schools. Higher education institutions will update existing courses to include AI-enabled content. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP).
Curriculum Reforms and Goals
Minister Pradhan recently chaired the third meeting of the Consultative Committee on the Use of AI in Teaching and Learning. During the session, the ministry reviewed comprehensive plans to embed AI into the national education system. The integration aims to enhance educational quality, making it more inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all students. The ministry seeks to improve learning outcomes through a student-centric and personalized approach, catering to India’s diverse student population.
Detailed curriculum reforms for schools were presented. These changes cover various stages of education and include:
- Foundational Stage: Introduction to age-appropriate computational thinking and AI literacy.
- Secondary Level: Formal introduction of AI as a specific skill subject.
- Overall Approach: Emphasis on project-based learning across all relevant subjects.
This structured approach ensures students develop foundational AI understanding early and advanced skills later.
Digital Initiatives Powered by AI
The education ministry also highlighted several existing digital platforms that utilize AI to enhance the learning process. These initiatives provide crucial support for students and teachers. Key platforms showcased include:
- DIKSHA 2.0: A national digital infrastructure for delivering e-content and supporting teachers.
- e-Jaadui Pitara: A resource for play-based learning materials, particularly for foundational stage students.
- Guru-Mitra: An initiative focused on professional development and support for educators.
- TARA app: A mobile application leveraging AI for diverse educational functionalities.
- My Career Advisor: A tool designed to provide personalized career guidance to students.
- Vidya Samiksha Kendra: A real-time monitoring system that tracks student progress and assesses learning outcomes.
These platforms collectively use AI for personalized learning pathways, teacher assistance, multilingual content access, effective assessments, and continuous progress monitoring.
Higher Education and Infrastructure Development
For centrally-funded higher education institutions, the ministry announced specific AI-enabled curriculum updates. These updates will integrate skill-based and interdisciplinary courses. The objective is to prepare graduates with relevant skills, improving their employability in a rapidly evolving job market. This also ensures India’s higher education system remains globally competitive and inclusive.
Further efforts will strengthen both digital and physical infrastructure across educational institutions. This foundational support is essential for advanced learning, research activities, and the successful implementation of AI-driven education reforms.
Consultative Committee Meeting
The third meeting of the Consultative Committee included key attendees. Minister of State for Education and DoNER, Sukanta Majumdar, and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (IC) and Education, Jayant Chaudhary, were present. Committee members and other senior officials from the ministry also attended the review session.