Govt To Set Up 'Centres Of Excellence' For AI In Education: Nirmala Sitharaman
The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2026-26 in the Parliament today announced the setting up of the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in the Education sector.
“A Centre of Excellence for AI in Education will be set up in India. We have already opened 3 Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Agriculture and Health set in 2023. Now another CoC will be set in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education will be set up with a total outlay of 500 crores” said, the finance minister.
In India platforms including schools and educational institutions are using the AI to tailor content for students. AI driven assistant help students with queries 24/7 and tools such as Google Lens help students to understand complex problems.
Government Initiatives in AI for Education
The Indian government is promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence in Education through several initiatives:
- National AI Strategy (NITI Aayog) – Focuses on AI in education, healthcare, and agriculture.
- AI for All (CBSE & Intel) – Introduced AI-based curricula in CBSE schools.
- FutureSkills Prime (MeitY & NASSCOM) – AI-focused upskilling for students and professionals.
- NEP 2020 (National Education Policy) – Emphasizes AI integration in education and research.
- AI in higher education: IITs, NITs, and universities are integrating AI-driven tools for adaptive learning.
