India Joins Global AI Education Race: A State-by-State Rollout Plan for 2025–2026

India’s Timeline for Integration of AI in Schools

India has now started to implement a phased AI integration through schooling systems, though is kept at a slower pace than China and UAE.

Current Status (2025–2026 Academic Year)

Delhi Schools (May 2025):

• AI Curriculum Development For Classes 6–10 (AI Samarth) was launched through IIT Madras and the Center for Civil Society (CSF), focusing on the practical application and ethical usage of AI .

National-Level Curriculum:

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the National Programme on Artificial Intelligence Skilling Framework has issued a Basic AI course syllabus for 6+, intending to provide self AI literacy and solution identifying abilities .

CISCE Board (2025–2026 Academic Year):

• Robotics and AI are being introduced on ICSE/ISC syllabus starting from 2025-26 session .

Policy and Funding Initiatives:

• Emphasizing skilling and workforce readiness, the policy Union Budget 2025 issued 500 crore for AI Centre of Excellence for Education .

Implementation Timeline

• 2025–2026:
• Launch on AI programs will take place in Delhi and CISCE schools but include as trial in other states.
• National curriculum frameworks completed and piloted in select institutions.
• 2026–2027 Onward:
• Gradual scaling to all government and private schools systematically under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Global Comparison

Country	AI Rollout Timeline	Scope	Key Initiatives
UAE/Dubai	2025–2026	Mandatory AI education fromkindergarten to Grade 12	Qualified AI teachers deployed in schools; curriculum focuses on future tech readiness68.
China	2024–2025	Nationwide AI education with heavy state funding	Tools likeSquirrel AIuse datasets and surveillance to boost test scores27.
India	2025–2026 (initial rollout)	AI forClasses 6+, expanding to broader adoption	Delhi’s “AI Samarth,” CISCE curriculum, and national skilling frameworks134.

Key takeaways

UAE Leading Early Adoption:

• One of the first worldwide approached to institute AI education from age 4 (kindergarten) in efforts to build a technology-capable induction of students workforce to support global competitiveness.

India’s Strategic Approach:

• Scoped on implementation of ethical AI along with teacher training first rollout implementation and regional pilots prior to national scale out.
• The NEP 2020 and over their 2025 budget mark long term commitments to frameworks set to deliver results in three years .

China’s Aggressive Expansion:

• Supports adaptation of Squirrel AI for learning purposes and surveillance-driven learning, bolstered by state funding and tax breaks.

Challenges for India

• Lack of Infrastructure: The AI labs and the AI teacher training programs might not be accessible to rural schools.
• Inequitable Distribution of Resources: Public institutions are underfunded in comparison to private schools and urban areas which are adopting AI at a faster pace.
• Homogenization of Curriculum: The innovation and creativity balance with standardized curricula across boards (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards) is still a challenge.

Conclusion

India’s implementation of AI in education is tactical, offering core competencies and ethical considerations first. The UAE and China employ a much more aggressive approach (such as introducing AI in kindergarten or installing AI-powered surveillance), whereas India leads with its focus on skilling and regional trials, making it a late but purposeful entrant in the global AI education race.

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