AI to become a foundational skill from Class 3 onwards

In a landmark move to make India’s school education system future-ready, the Ministry of Education has announced that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) will be introduced into the national school curriculum from Class 3 onwards, beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. 

The initiative, led by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), aims to make AI a foundational universal skill integrated with the theme “The World Around Us.” Developed under the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF SE) 2023, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the curriculum design involves collaboration among national and state education bodies, including CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS). The CBSE has constituted an expert committee, chaired by Professor Karthik Raman of IIT Madras, to frame the AI and CT curriculum. 

Recognising the crucial role of educators, the Ministry has placed teacher training at the core of the rollout. Capacity-building programs will be implemented through NISHTHA and other national initiatives, supported by video-based learning modules and NCERT-developed handbooks.

A coordination committee between NCERT and CBSE will oversee seamless implementation, quality standards, and curriculum alignment.

This forward-looking reform signifies a major step toward embedding AI into the fabric of school education, preparing every child to think critically, act ethically, and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.