India mandates AI curriculum from Class 3 starting 2026-27 academic year

New Delhi, May. The Department of School Education and Literacy has mandated AI and computational thinking as compulsory from Class 3 onwards, beginning with the 2026-27 academic session.

Aligned with NEP 2020

The announcement was made on October 29, 2025; the rollout aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. The aim is to prepare children for a digital and AI-first future.

Every CBSE/KVS/NVS school

The mandate applies to every Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) school. State boards are expected to follow — some have already announced parallel curricula.

₹500 crore Centre of Excellence

A Centre of Excellence in AI for Education has been proposed with a ₹500 crore allocation under Union Budget 2025-26. The centre will focus on teacher training, curriculum development, and research.

What children will study

Class 3-5: Basic AI concepts, algorithmic thinking, privacy, and cyber-safety.
Class 6-8: Introduction to machine learning, programming (Python/Scratch), working with data.
Class 9-12: Advanced AI/ML, neural networks, AI ethics, real-world projects.

Teacher training challenge

The biggest implementation challenge: training over 10 million teachers nationwide via the NISHTHA platform. The Education Ministry has announced public-private partnerships with Microsoft, Google, and Indian EdTech firms.

Criticism and concerns

Education experts worry that a "rushed" rollout could affect quality. The lack of digital infrastructure in rural areas is a major concern — 40% of Indian schools still lack reliable internet.