India to Introduce AI Curriculum in Schools from Class 3

Context:

The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L) recently announced the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) into school education from Grade 3 onwards, starting in the academic session 2026–27. The initiative is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF SE) 2023.

Objectives of the Initiative:

1. Foundational AI Literacy:
The curriculum aims to treat AI education as a foundational skill, similar to reading, writing, and arithmetic, linked to “The World Around Us” (TWAU), enabling students to understand the technology’s relevance in daily life.

2. Ethical and Socially Responsible AI:
The curriculum aims to instil the concept of “AI for Public Good”, encouraging students to use AI ethically to solve societal challenges.

3. Computational Thinking:
AI education will foster problem-solving, logical reasoning, and creativity, equipping children with essential 21st-century skills.

Key Features / Design Elements:

· The curriculum will include both AI concepts and computational thinking (CT) integrated into early schooling, not only in higher grades.

· Teacher training is central: Pilot projects are underway for teachers to use AI tools for lesson‑planning; large‑scale capacity building will be rolled out.

· Inclusive curriculum development: A committee (chaired by Prof. Karthik Raman, IIT Madras) has been constituted to develop content. Materials, hand‑books and digital/digital‑print resources are targeted by December 2025.

· Phased rollout with existing modules: AI is already offered as a skill subject in more than 18,000 CBSE schools from Class 6 onwards; the new decision expands this to Class 3.

Significance of the Initiative:

1. Future-Ready Workforce:
Early exposure to AI equips students with critical digital skills, laying the foundation for careers in emerging technologies.

2. Bridging the Digital Divide:
Inclusive curriculum design ensures equitable AI literacy, reducing disparities in access to technology education.

3. Innovation and Creativity:
Integrating AI and CT fosters innovation-driven thinking, problem-solving skills, and ethical decision-making from a young age.

4. Policy Alignment:
This initiative operationalizes NEP 2020’s vision of embedding AI into school education, creating a systematic and sustainable pathway for digital empowerment.

Conclusion:

The introduction of AI and Computational Thinking from Class 3 is a forward-looking step aligned with NEP 2020, aiming to prepare India’s youth for a knowledge-driven world. Its success will depend on inclusive, context-sensitive, and well-monitored implementation, from teacher readiness to bridging rural-urban divides, promising a generation equipped for the AI era.