Govt, industry collaborate to revamp AI curriculum in India
The Taskforce conducted a baseline study of existing Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) Computer Science and allied courses across Indian educational institutions in partnership with industry experts and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). While the study noted an increase in AI-related content in Indian curricula, it identified major gaps in pedagogy, infrastructure and practical exposure, particularly in areas such as Generative AI, Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) and foundational model development.
The proposed reforms focus on application-oriented learning, moving away from traditional lecture-based teaching towards industry use cases from the first semester itself. The roadmap also suggests integrating AI courses into the formal academic credit system with a structured semester-wise rollout.
The Taskforce has recommended significantly increasing practical exposure for students, from the current 25–30 per cent to nearly 40–75 per cent depending on the degree and specialisation. Industry-integrated learning through capstone projects, end-to-end AI solution engineering and the use of low-code and no-code tools has also been proposed.
Another major recommendation is the integration of Responsible AI and AI Governance across all semesters rather than limiting them to standalone modules. The proposed curriculum also includes multiple entry and exit options, allowing students to earn a Certificate after the first year, a Diploma after the second year and an Advanced Diploma after the third year.
The meeting also stressed the importance of faculty development to ensure successful implementation of the revamped curriculum. Recommendations included structured Train-the-Trainer programmes, curated course content, standardised assessment frameworks and modernised laboratories aligned with current industry tools and platforms. The consultation also proposed engaging experienced industry professionals as adjunct faculty to bring practical expertise into classrooms.
Participants further recommended the creation of a national-level shared AI infrastructure jointly supported by the government, industry and academic institutions under a “triple helix” model. The shared infrastructure would provide equitable access to GPU compute, edge devices, software stacks and subscription-based platforms across colleges and universities.
The consultation concluded with consensus on four immediate next steps, including estimating national-scale requirements for compute infrastructure, faculty and learners; engaging with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for formal adoption of the revamped curriculum; developing a faculty training roadmap; and launching a parallel initiative for AI literacy and awareness in non-STEM disciplines.
