TLDR: India is set to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) as foundational skills in all schools from Grade 3 onwards, commencing in the 2026-27 academic year. This initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to equip students with essential cognitive and ethical AI skills, with curriculum development led by an expert committee from IIT Madras and extensive teacher training planned.
In a landmark move to prepare its future generations for an increasingly digital world, India’s Ministry of Education has announced the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) into the school curriculum for all students from Grade 3. This ambitious program is slated to begin in the 2026-27 academic year, marking a significant shift in the nation’s educational landscape. The initiative is meticulously aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, emphasizing a holistic and progressive approach to AI literacy.
Curriculum development is already underway, spearheaded by an expert committee established by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), chaired by Professor Karthik Raman of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. This committee is tasked with designing a comprehensive AI and CT curriculum for classes 3 to 12. The creation of essential learning materials, teacher guides, and digital content is targeted for completion by December 2025.
Teacher empowerment is a cornerstone of this rollout, with plans for structured, grade-specific training programs for over 10 million educators across India. These programs will be conducted through NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) and other recognized institutions. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, underscored the importance of viewing AI education as a fundamental universal skill, intrinsically linked to ‘The World Around Us.’ He stressed that the curriculum must remain ‘broad-based, inclusive, and responsive to evolving educational and technological needs.’
The Ministry of Education stated that ‘Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking (AI & CT) will reinforce the concept of learning, thinking, and teaching, and will gradually expand towards the idea of ‘AI for Public Good.’ This initiative marks a nascent yet significant step towards the ethical use of AI to solve complex challenges, as the technology will be organically embedded from the foundational stage, beginning in Grade 3.’
This new framework builds upon earlier efforts. The CBSE had previously introduced AI as an elective subject for Class IX students in the 2019-20 academic session, expanding it to Class XI in 2020-21. Furthermore, CBSE has collaborated with IBM to integrate an AI curriculum in 200 schools nationwide. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has also announced the addition of robotics and AI to its school curriculum starting in the 2025–26 academic year.
The phased introduction of the curriculum will see computational thinking embedded across all subjects like language and ‘The World Around Us’ for Grades 3 to 5. For Grades 6 to 8, students will be introduced to foundational concepts of AI. Advanced computational thinking and intermediate AI are planned as compulsory subjects for Grades 9 and 10, likely from the 2027-28 academic session, with a separate textbook under consideration. In Classes 11 and 12, core AI and machine learning concepts and skills will be offered as elective subjects.
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The initiative follows a stakeholder consultation held on October 29, 2025, which brought together representatives from various educational bodies including CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and external experts. This move positions India among a select group of nations prioritizing AI curricula at the foundational level. A January 2025 report by Ernst & Young (E&Y)-Parthenon highlighted that ‘AI in education is driving changes like personalized teaching, multi-lingual and differential learning, and real-time assessments…2025 promises to be an inflexion year for Indian education with paradigm shifts led by AI.’
