New Delhi: In a path-breaking move, the Ministry of Education has mandated Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking (AI & CT) in school curricula starting in Class 3 in the 2026–27 session, heralding a tech-savvy generation.
Under the School Education and Literacy Department, the initiative aims to transform young minds from tech users to creators. “AI isn’t just technology — it’s the foundation of the future. Early exposure will sharpen thinking and spark innovation,” a ministry official stated.
The course, aligned with NEP 2020 and NCF SE 2023, will teach kids how machines “think”, solve real-world problems, and harness AI for societal good — not profit. From understanding robot logic to programming basics, the syllabus promises hands-on learning.
A high-powered team led by IIT Madras Professor Karthik Raman, alongside CBSE, NCERT, KVS, NVS, and state boards, is crafting textbooks, handbooks, videos, and digital resources— ready by December 2025. Teacher training via NISHTHA platforms has already begun.
The rollout will be phased: Class 3 in 2026-27, adding one grade annually. With India’s AI market hitting $17 billion in 2025 and eyeing $100 billion by 2030, the ministry believes this will spawn AI engineers, data scientists, and robotics experts — even in rural pockets.
As India races to lead the global tech wave, the objective isn’t just curriculum reform — it’s nation-building, one eight-year-old coder at a time.
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