Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The response outlines initiatives to equip students with AI skills, promote AI in technical education, enhance accessibility to AI knowledge, and establish Centers of Excellence in AI. It also details the "IndiaAI" Mission and digital education access improvements via the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Key Points / Main Content:
AI Integration in Education:
* NEP 2020 envisions contemporary subjects like AI, design thinking, and global citizenship education.
* CBSE offers AI as a skill module from Class VI onwards and as an optional subject from Class IX-XII.
* DIKSHA integrates AI features like keyword search in videos and read-aloud for visually impaired students.
AI Skills Development:
* SOAR initiative embeds AI awareness and foundational skills in students (Classes 6-12) and builds AI literacy among educators.
* SOAR comprises three 15-hour modules for students and one 45-hour module for teachers, covering AI basics, ethics, and cybersecurity.
AI in Technical Education:
* AICTE has added AI-related subjects to IT programs and designed AI courses for non-computer science branches.
* AICTE prepared a model curriculum for AI and Data Science in 2021 and runs Faculty Development Programmes in AI.
Accessibility to AI Knowledge:
* SWAYAM platform offers over 110 free AI-related courses, with over 41.2 lakh students enrolled.
AI Centers of Excellence:
* Government approved three AI Centers of Excellence (CoEs) focusing on health, sustainable cities, and agriculture, with a financial outlay of Rs. 990.00 crore for FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
* The Budget 2025-26 includes provision for an AI CoE in the field of Education.
"IndiaAI" Mission:
* Strategic initiative to establish an inclusive AI ecosystem, positioning India as a global AI leader.
* Driven by seven pillars: Compute Capacity, Innovation Center, Dataset Platform, Application Development Initiative, Future Skills, Startup Financing, and Safe Trusted AI.
Digital Education Access:
* Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan provides financial assistance for ICT Labs and Smart Classrooms in Government and Government Aided Schools (Classes VI to XII).
Impact Analysis:
Students:
* Impact: Enhanced learning opportunities, development of AI-related skills, and improved digital literacy.
* Action Required: Engage with AI-related courses and modules offered by CBSE, DIKSHA, and SOAR.
Educators:
* Impact: Opportunity to upskill in AI and integrate AI into teaching pedagogies.
* Action Required: Participate in AI for Educators module under SOAR and Faculty Development Programmes offered by AICTE.
Educational Institutions (CBSE, NCERT, AICTE, IITs, IISc):
* Impact: Required to implement AI-related programs and curricula, develop AI-based learning resources, and offer AI courses.
* Action Required: Integrate AI into curricula, offer AI-based learning resources on platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM, and collaborate on the "IndiaAI" Mission.
Aspirational Districts (especially in Uttar Pradesh):
* Impact: Improved digital education access through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, leading to enhanced learning outcomes.
* Action Required: Utilize financial assistance for establishing ICT Labs and Smart Classrooms in schools.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP, 2020: A national policy by the Government of India aimed at holistic development of students and integrating contemporary subjects like Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence AI: A field of computer science focused on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
DIKSHA Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing: An initiative of National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT, DIKSHA has integrated AI based features to make education more inclusive.
National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT: An autonomous organization of the Government of India which provides guidance and support in school education.
SOAR Skilling for AI Readiness: A national level initiative by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to embed AI awareness and skills among school students and educators.
All India Council for Technical Education AICTE: A statutory body and a national-level council for technical education under the Department of Higher Education.
Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds SWAYAM: An online platform of the Ministry of Education that delivers free AI-related courses curated by premier institutions.
IndiaAI Mission: A strategic initiative by the Government of India to establish a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4132
ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Al in Education
4132. Shri Jagdambika Pal:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the teaching pedagogy
under policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and if so, details thereof;
(b) whether the subjects such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have been included
in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and if so, details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has envisioned the role to be played by Artificial Intelligence in the
future of education, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government plans to have any special provisions to improve digital education
access to schools in aspirational districts, especially in Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): Government of India launched 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 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.
Further, AI is being utilized to make education more inclusive through the initiative of DIKSHA
(Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing). An initiative of National Council of Educational
Research and Training (NCERT), DIKSHA has integrated AI based features such as: AI based
key-word search enablement in Videos to easily filter the relevant concepts within videos, Read-
aloud feature which can help visually impaired students.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. SOAR
comprises three progressive 15-hour modules for students—AI to be Aware, AI to Acquire, and
AI to Aspire—and one independent 45-hour module for teachers titled AI for Educators. The
program introduces concepts such as AI basics, generative AI, AI in daily life, programming
fundamentals, ethics, cybersecurity and future career opportunities.
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-eomputer
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.
Further, with an objective of improving accessibility to Al knowledge and Skills, the Study Webs
of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) online platform of the Ministry of
Education has delivered over 110 free AI-related courses, curated by premier institutions such as
the IITs, IISc among others. As on date, more than 41.2 lakh students have enrolled in these
courses.
Government of India has also approved the establishment of three Centres of Excellence (CoEs)
in Artificial Intelligence, focusing on health, sustainable cities, and agriculture, with a total
financial outlay of Rs. 990.00 crore for the period FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28. The Budget 2025-
26 has also provided for an AI CoE in the field of Education.
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.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme has been implemented in partnership
with all the States and UTs. The ICT and Digital Initiatives component of Samagra Shiksha
covers Government and Government Aided Schools having classes VI to XII. Under this
component financial assistance is provided for establishing ICT Labs and Smart Classrooms in
schools. The non- recurring/recurring grant under ‘ICT and Digital Initiatives’ is available to the
States and UTs.
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