India to Integrate AI and Computational Thinking into School Curriculum from Grade 3

India is set to implement an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) curriculum for students from Grade 3 onwards, starting with the 2026–27 academic year. This significant educational reform aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is actively developing the framework, aiming to substantially increase the practical learning component from the current 25-30% to between 40-75%.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is leading a comprehensive overhaul of AI education at the college and university levels. This transformation emphasizes practical learning, robust collaboration with industry partners, and extensive faculty development programs. The goal is to equip higher education institutions with the necessary resources and expertise to produce a skilled AI workforce, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands. This dual approach ensures a holistic development of AI talent across all educational stages.

A key proposal from MeitY includes creating a shared national AI infrastructure, providing equitable access to critical resources such as GPU computing, edge devices, and advanced AI software stacks. This initiative aims to reduce disparities among institutions, particularly benefiting smaller colleges and universities that may lack significant computational resources. By democratizing access to advanced AI technologies, India seeks to broaden participation in AI development and foster innovation across diverse regions and socio-economic backgrounds, accelerating its digital transformation.