**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Indian government's measures to promote AI education and infrastructure in schools and colleges, particularly in rural, tribal, and aspirational districts. It details financial assistance provided under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM SHRI scheme for ICT labs and digital initiatives. The document also highlights the establishment of Centres of Excellence in AI and AI Skill Centres. The information is current as of 31.05.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan:**
* Provides financial assistance to States/UTs, including rural, tribal, and aspirational districts, for ICT Labs in Government and Government Aided Schools (Classes VI to XII).
* Offers non-recurring grants (up to Rs. 6.40 lakh per school) and recurring grants (up to Rs. 2.40 lakh per school per annum for 5 years) for ICT and digital initiatives.
* States/UTs have flexibility in procuring hardware (tablets, laptops, etc.) and software, including support for digital boards and smart classrooms.
* As of 31.05.2025, 1,56,213 ICT Labs have been approved with a financial approval of Rs. 7,311.93 crore.
* Additionally, 20,456 ICT Labs have been approved with a financial approval of Rs. 911.13 Crore to saturate all functional secondary and senior secondary schools with ICT Labs.
* **PM SHRI Scheme:**
* Includes provisions for ICT and Digital Initiatives for Classes VI to XII.
* Offers a non-recurring grant of up to Rs. 10.00 lakh per school for ICT smart classrooms and futuristic technologies (AI, Machine Learning, etc.).
* Provides a recurring grant of up to Rs. 2.50 lakh per school for e-content, software, digital resources, electricity, and technical support.
* **Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in AI:**
* Three CoEs established in AI for healthcare (IISc Bangalore), agriculture (IIT Ropar), and sustainable cities (IIT Kanpur) with a budget outlay of Rs. 990 crores.
* A Centre of Excellence in AI for Education announced with a financial outlay of Rs. 500 crores.
* **AI Skill Centres & Related Initiatives:**
* Premier institutions are establishing AI Skill Centres focused on frontier technologies.
* Faculty development programs and upgraded digital infrastructure support AI-based education.
* Platforms like SWAYAM and One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) enhance access to global research.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State and UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and utilizing financial assistance for setting up ICT labs and digital initiatives in schools.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the financial grants provided to establish and maintain ICT labs in schools, procure necessary hardware and software, and ensure equitable access to technology for students.
* **Schools (Government and Government Aided):**
* *Impact:* Benefit from the establishment of ICT labs and access to digital resources, enhancing the learning environment and providing opportunities to explore AI and related technologies.
* *Action Required:* Assess technology needs and opt for either ICT or smart classrooms depending on their requirements. Ensure effective utilization of resources to provide quality education.
* **Students:**
* *Impact:* Gain access to modern technology and AI-related education, improving their skills and preparing them for future job opportunities.
* *Action Required:* Actively participate in ICT lab activities, utilize digital resources, and explore AI and related technologies to enhance their learning and skills.
* **Premier Educational Institutions (IITs, IISc):**
* *Impact:* Leading the establishment and operation of Centres of Excellence in AI, contributing to research and development in AI-related fields, and providing expertise in faculty development programs.
* *Action Required:* Focus on research and development, collaborate with other institutions, and provide training and support to educators and students in AI.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy 2020: A comprehensive framework for education in India, guiding the development of the education system.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: An overarching programme for school education in India, from pre-school to Grade 12, focusing on inclusive and equitable quality education.
PM SHRI Scheme: A scheme focused on developing schools to showcase the components of the National Education Policy 2020.
ICT Labs: Information and Communication Technology labs established in schools to promote digital literacy and access to technology in education.
IIT Kanpur: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, leading the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence focusing on sustainable cities.
IISc Bangalore: Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, leading the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence focusing on healthcare.
IIT Ropar: Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, leading the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence focusing on the agriculture sector.
SWAYAM: A program that supports AI-based education and access to global research.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238
ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025
Access of AI Lab in Schools/Colleges
1238. Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the measures taken by the Government to ensure that schools and colleges in Rural, Tribal and
Aspirational Districts are prioritized for AI lab access;
(b) the details of AI labs which have been approved/set up in schools and colleges;
(c) the total budget allocation for setting up AI labs in schools under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
and PM SHRI Scheme; and
(d) the details of other scheme, to promote AI Labs in Schools and Colleges?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SH. JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d): Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are
under domain of the respective State and UT Governments. Samagra Shiksha, an overarching
programme envisaging the ‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school to Grade 12, is running in the
country including the rural areas. The vision of the scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.
Under Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs, including rural,
tribal and aspirational districts for setting up of ICT Labs in Government and Government Aided
Schools having classes VI to XII. The non- recurring/recurring grant under ‘ICT and Digital
Initiatives’ is available to the States and UTs for following two options:
Option I: Under this option schools which have not availed the ICT facility earlier can
either opt for ICT or smart classrooms as per their requirement and need. In case of more
than 700 enrolment, an additional ICT lab can also be considered. States/UTs have
flexibility to procure hardware such as tablets/ laptops/notebooks/ integrated teaching
learning devices and open-source operating system as well as Hardware, Software, training
and resource support. This would include support for digital boards, smart classrooms,
virtual classrooms and DTH channels on pro-rata basis for number of schools approved.
Option II: Under this option schools which have already availed the ICT facility earlier
can avail smart classrooms/tablets as per the norms of the scheme.
Financial Provisions: A non-recurring grant of up to Rs. 6.40 lakh per school and recurring grant
of upto Rs. 2.40 lakh per school per annum for a period of 5 years.
As per PRABANDH portal, till 31.05.2025, a total of 1,56,213 ICT Labs have been
approved across the country, with financial approval of Rs. 7,311.93 crore to States and UTs.Additionally, to saturate all functional secondary and senior secondary schools with ICT
Labs, a total of 20,456 ICT Labs have been approved, with financial approval of Rs. 911.13 Crore
under Samagra Shiksha.
Under PM SHRI guidelines, there is a provision for ICT and Digital Initiatives for Classes
VI to XII. Under this component, non- recurring grant of up to ₹ 10.00 lakh per school is available
for ICT/ smart classrooms/ and adopting futuristic technologies such as- such as- IT, Artificial
Intelligence, Machine Learning, 3-D printing, IOT, technology, Data Analytic, Business
Intelligence, Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality, Cyber Security, Data Science, Robotics, etc.
Further, a recurring grant of up to ₹ 2.50 lakh per school is available for procurement of e-content,
inclusive software/apps/devices, digital resources, electricity charges, and technical support.
The Government has established three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Artificial
Intelligence, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities. These CoEs are led by
premier institutions: IIT Kanpur, which leads sustainable cities, IISc Bangalore, which leads
healthcare and IIT Ropar, which leads the agriculture sector. The budget outlay for these three
CoEs is Rs. 990 crores. The Government has also announced a Centre of Excellence in AI for
Education with a financial outlay of Rs. 500 crores. Premier institutions are also setting up AI Skill
Centres focused on frontier technologies such as AI, machine learning, data science, and quantum
computing. Faculty development programs, upgraded digital infrastructure, and platforms like
SWAYAM and One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) further support AI-based education and
access to global research.
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