CBSE CT and AI syllabus: Dharmendra Pradhan launches CBSE CT and AI syllabus for class 3 to 8 students
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence (CT and AI) curriculum for classes III to VIII under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on April 1, the first day of the 2026-27 academic session. Launched at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in the presence of senior government officials and education stakeholders.The curriculum, developed in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), brings formally structured AI education to the CBSE school system on a large scale. Pradhan described it as “a transformational step towards future-ready learning”, and said that the initiative “formally introduces structured AI learning into the school ecosystem at large.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan posed for a photograph with Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Sanjay Kumar IAS, Dr. Vineet Joshi IAS, Rahul Singh IAS, Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani and Ms. Prachi Pandey while presenting the CBSE CT and examination. AI course at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
curriculum designed for the classroomThe CT and AI curriculum is equipped with structured learning modules, comprehensive teacher manuals and robust student assessment framework. Pradhan said the initiative “ensures early and systematic exposure to emerging technologies laying a strong foundation for future learners.” These resources are designed to give both students and teachers a clear, practical path into AI and computational thinking from class III onwards.Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary co-launched the curriculum with Pradhan. Sanjay Kumar IAS, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy was also present at the event; Dr. Vineet Joshi IAS, Secretary, Higher Education Department; Rahul Singh IAS, CBSE Chairman; Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT; and Ms. Prachi Pandey, Joint Secretary (Institution and Training), Department of School Education and Literacy.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan poses with the CBSE CT & Employment Board. AI curriculum development team and dignitaries including Mr. Jayant Chaudhary, Sanjay Kumar IAS, Dr. Vineet Joshi IAS, Rahul Singh IAS, Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, and Ms. Prachi Pandey celebrating the launch of Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum for classes III to VIII at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
AI for education and AI in educationPradhan outlined two guiding strategies behind the initiative – “AI for education” and “AI in education” – which he called “augmented learning”. In his words, the curriculum is “a decisive shift towards augmented learning – nurturing a culture of critical thinking, design orientation and innovation among young minds.”Citing the Stanford AI Knowledge Index, he said India is currently the third largest country in the world in terms of AI-enabled population. He said, “If we review the Stanford AI Knowledge Index today, India is the third largest country in the world with people with AI capabilities. This has been possible because India’s academic and educational family has taken AI as its agenda. Today, we have worked to bring it into a formal framework.”
Students, teachers and education stakeholders listen attentively as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addresses the audience during the launch of CBSE CT & AI course at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
CBSE and NCERT appreciatedPradhan also talked about India’s growing global position in technology-driven computing and said the curriculum will “empower students to meaningfully engage with and shape the digital future.” He congratulated both CBSE and NCERT for “institutionalizing this visionary framework and pursuing a more adaptive, technology-integrated education ecosystem”. The introduction of the curriculum from the first day of the academic year signals the government’s intention to treat AI literacy as a core part of school education rather than an optional add-on.