(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION

(MARCH-2025)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION

Context:

India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has initiated a groundbreaking transformation in India's educational landscape. It establishes a progressive framework for future-oriented education, overhauling the current system to guarantee access, fairness, and excellence in learning. NEP 2020 emphasizes the creation of a knowledge-centric society, enhancement of rural education, and bridging the urban-rural educational gap. The policy prioritizes early childhood education, vocational training, and the incorporation of technology, all while embracing a comprehensive approach to revolutionizing education in India.

Technology Integration in NEP 2020

NEP 2020 advocates for widespread and equitable implementation of technology across various educational facets:

Breaking down language barriers
Facilitating online and digital learning
Expanding opportunities for differently-abled students
Improving educational planning and administration
The policy notably refers to Artificial Intelligence (AI) on eight occasions, acknowledging its pivotal role in education.

AI serves a dual purpose:

Preparing students for AI as a discipline, encouraging research and development in the area.
Utilizing AI to elevate educational quality, skills development, and job readiness.
AI possesses the capability to transform the education system through e-learning, digital resources, and individualized learning experiences.

Artificial Intelligence: An Overview

The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) was first introduced in 1956 by John McCarthy, a professor at Dartmouth College. Research in AI advanced slowly until the breakthroughs in machine learning and neural networks during the 1990s accelerated progress. The emergence of ChatGPT in 2022 revolutionized AI with its extensive language model features. The recent release of DeepSeek has further advanced AI capabilities.

Today, AI plays a vital role across numerous sectors, including healthcare, finance, and education. AI fosters innovation in teaching and learning methodologies, pushing towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)—ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all.

India’s AI Initiatives

India has significantly embraced AI, with NITI Aayog’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence championing the concept of AI for All.

Key AI initiatives in education include:

AI for India 2.0 Initiative (launched on July 15, 2023): Provides complimentary AI training to equip youth with AI skills for upcoming job markets.
AI Skill India Program: Offers training in machine learning, data science, and AI ethics.
AI Portal: A cooperative platform providing AI courses and certifications.
National AI Skilling Program: Refines AI skills through tailored training modules. AI in the Curriculum

NEP 2020 advocates for the inclusion of AI, Design Thinking, Holistic Health, and Environmental Education at pertinent stages. The STEM-enriched curriculum promotes interdisciplinary comprehension of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Moreover, robotics education is gaining traction, providing students with practical experience in problem-solving, collaboration, and technological advancement.

Use of AI in Education

(i) Teaching and Learning Enhancement

AI-driven tools offer personalized learning experiences by adjusting content to individual requirements.
AI-enabled chatbots (like TARA on DIKSHA Portal) provide 24/7 assistance to teachers, students, and parents.
Language learning and translation tools promote regional language acquisition, fostering inclusivity.
Automated grading systems streamline assessments, alleviating teachers’ workload.
AI-facilitated formative assessments provide immediate feedback on students’ performance.

(ii) Classroom Monitoring & Management

AI-based video analytics oversee student involvement and classroom activities.
Facial recognition and behavioral analysis improve examination integrity and classroom safety.

(iii) AI for Differently-Abled Learners

Speech-to-text applications aid hearing-impaired students.
Text-to-speech technology assists visually impaired learners.
Real-time translation tools bridge linguistic barriers, ensuring inclusive education.
Apps like “PRASHAST” aid in early identification of disabilities, enabling timely intervention.

(iv) AI in Educational Administration

The Ministry of Education’s Vidya Sameeksha Kendra employs AI for:

Tracking student enrollment and dropout rates
Monitoring teacher attendance and efficacy
Analyzing student learning outcomes
Ensuring effective rollout of Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI Yojana AI-driven data analytics enhance policy-making and educational reforms by integrating systems like UDISE, NAS, NIPUN BHARAT, and Teacher Database.

AI Ambition in Union Budget 2025-26

The Union Budget 2025-26 designated ₹500 crore for the creation of an AI Center of Excellence for Education. This initiative aims to:

Augment AI integration in education
Enhance education quality
Increase employability through AI-focused skill development

AI also enables Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) learning experiences, rendering education more immersive and practical. AI for Education in Rural India

AI is pivotal in bridging the urban-rural education divide by:

Supporting teachers with AI-enhanced educational materials
Facilitating virtual classrooms for distant learning
Translating educational resources into regional languages, in line with NEP 2020’s vision
Providing AI-based offline learning platforms to accommodate students with limited internet connectivity

Conclusion:

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in education, as proposed by NEP 2020, is transforming India’s educational environment. AI improves customized learning, operational effectiveness, and accessibility while promoting inclusivity and skills enhancement. As AI progresses, it has the capacity to establish a technology-driven, fair, and comprehensive educational system that aligns with India’s aspirations of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India. Nonetheless, meticulous infrastructure planning, ethical AI application, and ongoing oversight are crucial to optimize AI’s advantages in education.