TLDR: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has rolled out the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) national program to introduce AI awareness and foundational learning for students from Classes 6 to 12, along with a dedicated module for teachers. This initiative aims to build India’s largest network of young AI learners, covering topics from AI basics to ethical use and career pathways, aligning with the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.
New Delhi, India – In a significant stride towards fostering a tech-driven and future-ready nation, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) officially launched the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) national program on July 22, 2025. This ambitious initiative is designed to embed Artificial Intelligence (AI) awareness and foundational learning into the curriculum for school students from Classes 6 to 12 across India, alongside comprehensive training for educators.
Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, inaugurated the program, emphasizing India’s aspiration to cultivate the world’s largest network of young learners actively engaging with AI. “India aspires to build the world’s largest network of young learners actively engaging with artificial intelligence (AI). This vision includes school students not just learning about AI but applying it in meaningful, real-world contexts,” stated Minister Chaudhary. He further added, “This is the future we are building—bold, tech-savvy, and ready to lead,” highlighting the program’s role in achieving the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.
The SOAR program features a structured curriculum comprising three progressive 15-hour modules for students:
‘AI to be Aware’: This introductory module exposes students to the fundamental concepts of AI and its common applications in daily life.
‘AI to Acquire’: Students will delve into the basic operations of AI systems, including programming fundamentals, machine learning basics, neural networks, and practical coding labs utilizing open-source AI tools.
‘AI to Aspire’: This module focuses on the ethical use of technology, cybersecurity, and exploring various career pathways in the AI domain.
In parallel, a dedicated 45-hour module titled ‘AI for Educators’ has been developed to equip teachers with the necessary pedagogical skills, content curation techniques, and assessment design knowledge to effectively impart AI concepts to students. The program’s curriculum, developed in collaboration with leading technology firms and education experts, covers a wide array of topics such as AI basics, generative AI, AI in daily life, programming fundamentals, ethics, cybersecurity, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.
The delivery of these modules will adopt a blended learning approach, combining online platforms with hands-on workshops. Schools will be actively encouraged to establish AI labs and form AI clubs to foster continuous learning and experimentation, thereby creating an ecosystem conducive to AI literacy. The MSDE also operationalized KaushalVerse, a new Digital Enterprise Portal by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), aiming to streamline vocational training and enhance accessibility to skill-related services.
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Financially, the government has demonstrated its commitment by releasing ₹1,538.29 crore for the FY 2024-25 implementation under the broader PMKVY 4.0 (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) initiative. Furthermore, the Skill Impact Bond (SIB), led by MSDE through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), has successfully mobilized $14.4 million to transform skill financing with a focus on employment outcomes. This comprehensive approach aims to bridge the digital divide by ensuring equitable access to AI education across all geographies, supporting the national agenda of inclusive, future-ready skilling.
