India launches AI labs in schools and updates university programs

In the state of Maharashtra, the first specialized AI labs for schoolchildren are opening, and across the country, universities are updating their curricula to include the study of neural networks, 5G, and semiconductor design.

The authorities of the state of Maharashtra have decided to open specialized artificial intelligence labs in a number of schools. There, students will gain practical skills in working with modern technologies - from Python programming to robotics and machine learning.

One of the first examples is the SERI International School in Pune, which has already launched an AI lab with a practice-oriented approach. The curriculum introduces students to artificial intelligence, robotics, and programming through project-based activities and experiments. Another school in the state - RFSLEM - has received the status of the "first AI school" in Maharashtra. This initiative is considered part of a national strategy: the Government of India, through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has already increased the number of government-funded seats in technical specializations related to AI and allied fields, including a 50% increase in enrollment for programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and blockchain.

Alongside the school initiatives, India is updating its higher education programs. The authorities are following the course set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "Develop AI in India and direct it for India's benefit." The country's leading technical universities, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are revising their curricula to meet the rapidly changing demands of industry and the provisions of NEP 2020. For instance, Delhi Technological University (DTU) has introduced several new bachelor's and master's programs in AI, VLSI design, and cybersecurity.

The scale of the transformations is confirmed by substantial funding. In the Union Budget for the 2025-26 financial year, the government allocated 500 crore rupees (about $60 million) for the creation of a Centre of Excellence in AI for education. For the 2026-27 financial year, 100 crore rupees have already been allocated from this amount.

The Centre, named "Bodhan AI" and based at IIT Madras, is intended to become a national hub for integrating AI into the educational process. It will focus on developing the Bharat EduAI Stack - an open digital public infrastructure (DPI) based on Indian AI models to ensure data sovereignty. This platform will allow states, educational institutions, and EdTech startups to create educational tools without developing parallel systems from scratch.

Over the next six to twelve months, Bodhan AI plans to launch pilot projects of AI tools in two or three states, covering 10-25% of schools in the selected regions to measure the impact on academic performance and the education system as a whole.