India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have finalized a mandatory Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking (AI & CT) curriculum to be introduced in all schools beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The curriculum begins in Grade 3, progressing to foundational instruction in grades 3-8, becoming compulsory in grades 9-10, and transforming into an elective specialization with advanced content in grades 11-12. Implementation aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, making this binding policy across the Indian education system.
Who it affects: All K-12 students across India in grades 3-12 beginning 2026-27. Teachers in all schools will be required to deliver the curriculum, necessitating mass training through the NISHTHA programme and supporting institutions. The mandate covers all public and private schools following the CBSE framework, reaching millions of students directly.
What is notably missing: No explicit specification of minimum teacher training duration or certification standards before curriculum implementation begins. While the government notes NISHTHA training will occur through video-based modules, no enforcement mechanism is stated for teachers who do not complete training. No separate funding allocation is explicitly mentioned for curriculum development, teacher training, or provision of technology access for practical AI learning. Rural schools without reliable digital infrastructure may struggle to implement the practical components, and the policy does not address equity in access to hardware or connectivity.