As India prepares for a national summit on artificial intelligence next week, the Union government has outlined an ambitious plan to reshape the education system, placing AI at the centre of teaching, learning and research. Senior officials say the goal is to move decisively away from rote-based instruction and towards inquiry, application and critical thinking.
Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi said artificial intelligence offers a powerful opportunity to reorient classrooms and campuses for the demands of a technology-driven world. Speaking ahead of the summit, Joshi said the traditional emphasis on memorisation no longer serves students in an era defined by rapid innovation and complex problem-solving.
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“Artificial intelligence gives a new direction and perspective to education,” he said, adding that this thinking underpins its mandatory inclusion under the National Education Policy 2020. According to Joshi, the focus must begin with teachers. “It is more important to train teachers in AI first. Only then can students use these tools in a balanced and meaningful way,” he noted.
From rote learning to inquiry-based education
Joshi traced the roots of rote learning to colonial-era systems, arguing that India’s earlier education traditions encouraged questioning and dialogue. Over time, fear of making mistakes discouraged students from engaging freely in classrooms. AI, he said, can help reverse that trend by allowing learners to ask questions, explore ideas and receive instant feedback without hesitation.
The Ministry of Education recently reinforced this approach through the two-day “Bharat Bodhan Summit,” organised by the Ministry of Education. In the run-up to the event, around 1,000 educational institutions across the country hosted programmes on February 12 to raise awareness and spark discussion on the role of AI in education.
Beyond classrooms: Research, health and innovation
The officials also clarified that the role of AI is not limited to the classroom. According to Joshi, the role of AI is also seen in strengthening research, innovation, start-ups, and industry-academia partnerships. In fields like health care and education, AI tools will enable students to grasp concepts in an in-depth manner and apply them in real-world problems.
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At the same time, the government has recognised the need to address the issue of over-reliance on technology. It has emphasised the importance of AI assisting human thought processes rather than replacing them. Ensuring that students are able to think independently has remained a priority as AI technology continues to advance.
In fact, with the National Education Policy already indicating a bigger role for technology in the country’s education sector in the future, the summit is expected to outline the roadmap for implementation. It’s stated that for India to be a top economy in the world, the inclusion of AI in education is no longer a choice but a necessity.
