- Punjab has become the first state in India to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a mainstream subject from Class 1 to 12 in government schools.
- The initiative will benefit 25,172 schools and around 31.5 lakh students across Punjab.
- The curriculum will be rolled out in a phased manner, starting with Classes 8 to 12 before expanding to Classes 1 to 7.
- New textbooks related to AI will be available for students within the next 15 days.
- The syllabus of AI will be updated every six months to keep pace with technological advancements.
- To support this initiative, the Education Department will start special training programmes for teachers and live online classes.
Punjab has made history by becoming the first Indian state to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mainstream subject from Class 1 to 12. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced this groundbreaking initiative, stating, "Today marks the beginning of a new era in Punjab's education system."1234
The curriculum, developed after studying international best practices from countries like Singapore and Finland, will be rolled out under the 'Sarbat.AI' project, benefiting 31.5 lakh students across 25,172 schools.56
In the first phase, AI will be integrated into the Computer Science curriculum for Classes 8 to 12, with plans to expand to Classes 1 to 7 in the second phase, ensuring age-appropriate education.
Bains emphasized the importance of keeping the syllabus updated every six months to align with technological advancements, stating, "We are moving from leading the Green Revolution to leading the Artificial Intelligence Revolution."8
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will oversee the implementation, with 12,424 Computer Science teachers leading the charge, while over 200,000 teachers will receive training to integrate AI into their teaching methods.
The initiative aims to equip students with future-ready skills, fostering innovation and responsible digital citizenship. "We want every child in Punjab to be prepared not only for the jobs of tomorrow but also to become creators and innovators in the technology-driven world," Bains added.
The program is supported by collaborations with tech giants like Google and Intel, enhancing AI literacy and workforce readiness.
As Punjab positions itself as a national leader in AI education, former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia remarked, "Punjab has scripted history with the launch of this project and has established itself as a national benchmark for AI education."
“The two-phase rollout begins with Classes 8 to 12, with 12,424 computer science teachers leading the first phase and more than 2 lakh teachers to be trained later. The curriculum, developed with input from Singapore, Finland, UAE, and the US, aligns with UNESCO's Ethical AI Framework.”
The Shillong Times
