TLDR: The Indian Ministry of Education has announced that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) will become mandatory subjects for students from Class 3 onwards, beginning with the 2026-27 academic session. This initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, aims to equip students with foundational AI skills and ethical understanding for an AI-driven future, with a significant focus on teacher training and curriculum development.
In a landmark move to prepare its young generation for the rapidly evolving digital landscape, India’s Ministry of Education has declared that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) will be integrated as mandatory subjects into the school curriculum from Class 3 onwards. This transformative change is slated to commence with the 2026-27 academic session, signaling a proactive approach to foster digital literacy and critical thinking from an early age.
The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L) under the Ministry of Education is spearheading this initiative, which aligns seamlessly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF SE) 2023. The overarching goal is to establish AI as a fundamental universal skill, akin to learning about ‘The World Around Us’ (TWAU), as articulated by Secretary Sanjay Kumar. He emphasized that this is a crucial step towards preparing students for a future profoundly shaped by intelligent systems.
A stakeholder consultation, held on October 29, 2025, brought together key educational bodies including CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and external experts. Discussions focused on the structure and content of the new curriculum. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already constituted an expert committee, chaired by Professor Karthik Raman of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, to meticulously develop the AI and CT curriculum. Resource materials, handbooks, and digital resources are expected to be finalized by December.
Officials have stressed that the curriculum will not merely focus on technical understanding but will also embed ethical and social awareness surrounding AI. The vision is to cultivate a generation capable of leveraging technology for ‘AI for Public Good,’ enabling them to solve complex, real-world problems responsibly and creatively. Secretary Sanjay Kumar highlighted the importance of a broad-based and inclusive framework that can adapt to changing needs while reflecting India’s unique educational context.
Recognizing that teachers are pivotal to the successful implementation of this initiative, the Ministry has prioritized extensive capacity building and training programs. The ‘real challenge,’ according to Sanjay Kumar, lies in empowering over one crore teachers across India to confidently teach AI concepts. A pilot initiative is already underway to train educators in utilizing AI tools for lesson planning and classroom material development. Currently, over 18,000 CBSE-affiliated schools offer AI as a skill-based subject for Classes 6 to 8 through a 15-hour module, with it being an elective for Classes 9 to 12.
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The initiative also comes amidst broader discussions on AI’s impact on the job market. A NITI Aayog report on AI and employment revealed that while approximately two million conventional jobs might be displaced by automation, nearly eight million new opportunities could emerge, provided India establishes the necessary ecosystem. The report underscored the need for closer collaboration between the proposed India AI Talent Mission and the ongoing India AI Mission, alongside stronger partnerships among academia, government, and industry, to build a skilled generation of innovators and researchers. The introduction of AI at the foundational level aims to make children aware of ‘something called AI’ and its everyday applications, gradually expanding to more complex concepts in higher grades.
