India’s Ministry of Education announces AI and computational thinking will be integrated into the school curriculum from Class 3 starting 2026-27. Learn about this transformative initiative reshaping education for future generations. India is set to make a landmark shift in its education system by introducing Artificial Intelligence as a foundational learning subject for all students beginning from Class 3. This groundbreaking initiative, announced by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education in late October 2025, marks a significant step toward preparing Indian youth for a technology-driven future.
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Understanding the Initiative
The government’s decision to integrate AI and Computational Thinking into the national curriculum from the 2026–27 academic year represents one of the most ambitious educational policy changes in modern India. Rather than treating AI as an advanced subject reserved for older students or specialized programs, the government has decided to make it a universal basic skill that every child should acquire early in their educational journey.
The Department of School Education and Literacy is collaborating with major educational organizations, including the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and various state governments to develop this comprehensive curriculum. This collaborative approach ensures that the curriculum will be inclusive, flexible, and suitable for India’s diverse student population across different regions and educational backgrounds.
Purpose and Philosophy Behind the Move
The core philosophy of this initiative, as articulated by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, is that AI education should be treated as a “basic universal skill” rather than a specialized or advanced subject. The curriculum will be integrated with the broader concept of “The World Around Us,” helping children understand how technology shapes their daily lives rather than focusing purely on technical programming skills.
The initiative also emphasizes the concept of “AI for Public Good,” encouraging students to think about how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly and ethically to benefit society. This approach ensures that alongside technological understanding, students develop moral and social responsibility in their relationship with technology.
Who Is Designing the Curriculum
The Central Board of Secondary Education has established an expert committee to develop the detailed curriculum framework for this initiative. This committee is chaired by Professor Karthik Raman from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, ensuring that the curriculum benefits from cutting-edge academic expertise. The involvement of IIT experts indicates that the curriculum will maintain high academic standards while remaining age-appropriate and accessible for young learners.
Age-Appropriate Learning Approach
The curriculum design emphasizes age-appropriateness as a key principle. For Class 3 students who are just beginning their AI education journey, the lessons will be interactive and playful, focusing on developing foundational skills like logical thinking, curiosity, and creative problem-solving rather than complex coding or complicated algorithms. The idea is to demystify technology and help children understand the “why” and “how” behind the smart devices they use every day, such as recommendation systems on mobile apps and voice-activated assistants.
As students progress through higher classes, the complexity and depth of AI concepts will increase gradually, building on the foundational knowledge established in the earlier years. This scaffolded approach ensures that learning remains engaging and meaningful at each stage of a child’s academic development.
Timeline and Resource Development
The Ministry of Education has set an ambitious timeline for this initiative. All resource materials, handbooks, and digital learning tools are targeted for completion by December 2025, just before the academic session in which the curriculum will be implemented. These materials will include activity kits, video lessons, and interactive digital resources to support classroom learning.
Teacher training programs will be structured, grade-specific, and time-bound to ensure that educators are well-prepared to deliver the AI curriculum effectively. The training will be built on the NISHTHA program, India’s national professional development framework for teachers, supplemented with video-based resources and ongoing support.
Addressing the Teacher Training Challenge
One of the most significant challenges in implementing this nationwide initiative is preparing teachers to teach AI effectively. The government acknowledges that this requires training over ten million teachers across India, a task of enormous proportions. Rather than expecting all teachers to become AI experts overnight, the approach focuses on making teachers comfortable with AI tools themselves first. Teachers will be trained to use AI-based platforms for administrative tasks such as generating lesson plans, designing personalized assignments for students, and tracking individual progress.
This dual approach transforms teachers into facilitators who use intelligent tools to make classrooms more dynamic and inclusive. The philosophy is clear: technology should enhance teaching, not replace teachers. By making teachers comfortable with AI and showing them how to integrate it into their pedagogical practice, the government aims to ensure sustainable implementation of this curriculum across the country.
Alignment with National Policies
This initiative aligns perfectly with India’s National Education Policy 2020, which explicitly encourages the integration of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence across all levels of learning. The policy recognizes that an AI-driven economy requires citizens who not only understand technology but can also engage with it critically and responsibly.
The curriculum development process also follows the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, ensuring consistency and coherence in educational standards across the country.
Broader Context of AI in Indian Education
This announcement is part of a larger government strategy to embed AI literacy throughout India’s education system. Earlier initiatives like the SOAR program, launched in July 2025, focused on introducing AI awareness and practical skills to students in Classes 6 through 12 through structured modules. The new Class 3 curriculum represents an extension of this vision downward to younger age groups, creating a comprehensive pipeline of AI-literate citizens from early childhood through higher education.
Additionally, the government allocated five hundred crore rupees in the Union Budget 2025 to establish an AI Centre of Excellence for Education, reflecting a serious financial commitment to this transformation.
Conclusion
India’s move to introduce AI and Computational Thinking from Class 3 marks a major step toward future-ready education. By treating AI as a universal skill, not a niche subject, the initiative aims to build curiosity, ethics, and problem-solving abilities from an early age. With collaboration across national education bodies and strong teacher training, the policy ensures inclusivity and sustainability. Backed by national frameworks and significant investment, this reform positions India as a leader in digital literacy. If implemented effectively, it will empower a generation of students to understand, use, and shape technology responsibly for public good.
Source: AI curriculum to be introduced in all schools from Class 3 onwards & AI curriculum to be introduced in all schools from Class 3 onwards
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