TLDR: OpenAI has disclosed that nearly half of its ChatGPT users in India are students under the age of 24, primarily utilizing the AI tool for academic purposes. This revelation comes alongside the announcement of significant educational initiatives, including the distribution of 500,000 paid ChatGPT licenses to Indian schools and technical institutions, and a new research partnership with IIT Madras, underscoring India’s strategic importance in OpenAI’s global education strategy.
OpenAI, the leading artificial intelligence research company, has revealed that a substantial portion of its ChatGPT user base in India, specifically nearly half, comprises students under the age of 24. These young users are predominantly leveraging the AI-powered chatbot for academic pursuits, including homework assistance, exam preparation, and exploring new ideas.
The announcement was made by Leah Belsky, Vice President and General Manager for Education at OpenAI, during an event held in New Delhi on Monday, August 26, 2025. Belsky highlighted that Indian students constitute the largest student community on the ChatGPT platform globally and have shown remarkable enthusiasm for the recently launched study mode feature.
In a strategic move to deepen its engagement with India’s burgeoning education sector, OpenAI unveiled a series of significant initiatives. The company plans to roll out 500,000 (five lakh) paid ChatGPT licenses, complete with comprehensive training support, for both teachers and students. These licenses will be distributed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), targeting government schools from Classes 1 to 12 and technical institutions across the nation. The initial validity for these licenses will be six months, aiming to equip educators with tools for lesson planning, classroom engagement, and student support, while enhancing digital skills and employability among students.
These efforts are part of the newly launched ‘OpenAI Learning Accelerator,’ an India-first program designed to expand AI education. The program will also extend its reach to secondary-level teachers in schools affiliated with the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE). Further solidifying its commitment to the Indian market, OpenAI also announced a new research partnership with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
Raghav Gupta, OpenAI’s recently appointed Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific, emphasized the company’s intent to democratize access to AI tools. “The intent is to provide access to children or teachers who might be in tier three, tier four cities and rural areas,” Gupta stated. He also noted ChatGPT’s support for 11 Indian languages and highlighted that the latest GPT-5 model demonstrates significant advancements in Indic language capabilities.
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- OpenAI Appoints Raghav Gupta to Lead Education Vertical in India and APAC, Bolstering AI-Driven Learning Initiatives
These announcements follow OpenAI’s recent confirmation of plans to establish an office in New Delhi, underscoring India’s growing importance in the company’s global roadmap. With a vast population of young, tech-savvy students, India is rapidly emerging as a critical market for the adoption of ChatGPT in education. Additionally, OpenAI recently introduced an India-specific subscription tier priced at Rs 399 per month, integrated with UPI payments, to make the platform more accessible to local users.
