Parliament Question: AI-based education

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2913 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 AI-based education 2913 Shri R. Dharmar: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the initiatives taken by Government to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and platforms in schools, colleges and higher education institutions across the country; (b) whether AI-driven adaptive learning, online assessment and personalized teaching systems are being promoted and the number of institutions currently using such technologies; (c) the measures being taken to train teachers and students in AI literacy and skill development; and (d) the steps planned to ensure equitable access to AI-based educational resources in rural and underserved areas, including Tamil Nadu, so as to reduce the digital and learning divide? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (d): Government of India launched National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with an aim for holistic development of students. NEP 2020 envisions introduction of contemporary subjects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Design Thinking, Holistic Health, Organic Living, Environmental Education, Global Citizenship Education (GCED), etc. at relevant stages to develop these various important skills in students at all levels. In alignment with the vision of NEP 2020, several steps have been taken by the Government, with an aim to equip students with AI related skills. The Ministry of Education has taken steps to facilitate adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at school education and higher education levels. At foundational stage, e-Jaadui Pitara has been developed, which is supported by three AI bots i.e., Katha Sakhi, Teacher Tara and Parent Tara, specifically for parents and teachers as it empowers them to create engaging, enjoyable, and interactive learning experiences for children aged 3-8 years. The Central Institute of Education Technology (CIET) under digital education initiative, has introduced personalized adaptive learning features in Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA), in respect of higher grades.The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), offers AI as a 15-hour skill module from Class VI onwards. CBSE also offers AI as an optional subject from class IX – XII. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launched a national level initiative SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness), which aims to embed AI awareness and foundational skills among school students (Classes 6–12) and to build AI literacy among educators. Further, with an objective of improving accessibility to AI knowledge and Skills, the Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) online platform of the Ministry of Education has delivered over 130 free AI-related courses, curated by premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) among others. More than 50 lakh learners have enrolled in these courses. Additionally, in November 2023, the Ministry of Education has launched the SATHEE (Self- Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) initiative in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. The platform provides free access to quality content, to support students/ learners in their preparation for various competitive examinations, including JEE, NEET, SSC, ICAR, CUET, IBPS, etc. As of January 2025, under this platform, more than 2.47 lakhs users have availed personalized learning using AI to identify performance gaps and error patterns. To promote Al in technical education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has added Al-related subjects to IT programs. Special Al courses are designed for non-computer science branches like Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering to integrate AI applications in their fields. In 2021, AICTE prepared a model curriculum for Al and Data Science. To help faculty keep up with new technologies, AICTE is also running Faculty Development Programmes in Al and other emerging fields. The Capacity Building Program on Artificial Intelligence (CBAI), implemented under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Program of the Ministry of Education promotes the integration of AI and other emerging technologies in education. The program is designed for faculty and academic leaders to strengthen their competencies towards developing AI-Driven Education tools and prompting research in AI to improve teaching methodologies. Government of India launched the "IndiaAI" Mission, a strategic initiative to establish a robust and inclusive Al ecosystem that aligns with the country's development goals. This mission is driven by a vision to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence by focusing on seven foundational pillars namely- IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Center (IAIC), IndiaAl Dataset Platform, IndiaAl Application Development Initiative (IADI), IndiaAI Future Skills, IndiaAl Startup Financing, Safe & Trusted AI. AI is a cutting-edge technology evolving through research and usage. A Centre of Excellence (CoE) for AI in Education was announced in Union Budget 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs. 500 Cr which has been established at IIT Madras. The CoE is envisaged to drive innovation, research, and development in AI-enabled educational tools, to support expanding access to quality education across the country. ***