Punjab Becomes First State In India To Make AI A Mainstream Subject From Class 1 To 12

Published 22 July 2026 · local

Punjab Becomes First State In India To Make AI A Mainstream Subject From Class 1 To 12 Published By, Last Updated: July 22, 2026, 22:44

Punjab Becomes First State In India To Make AI A Mainstream Subject From Class 1 To 12 Published By, Last Updated: July 22, 2026, 22:44 IST Punjab is India's first state to make AI a mainstream subject from Class I-XII, launching 'Sarbat.AI' in 25,172 schools. Representative image of a child in an Artificial Intelligence aided learning environment. Punjab has become the first state in India to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mainstream subject from Class I to XII, under a project called ‘Sarbat.AI’. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will roll out the curriculum in phases, with the programme eventually intended to cover 25,172 schools and nearly 31.5 lakh students. School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia launched the project in the presence of education experts, technology partners and senior officials of the School Education Department. How The Rollout Will Work Bains said Phase I will begin with Classes VIII to XII, integrating AI into the Computer Science curriculum in government and affiliated private schools through live online classes, recorded lectures, project-based learning, continuous assessments and a dedicated Learning Management System.

Phase II will extend AI education to Classes I to VII. He said 12,424 Computer Science teachers will lead implementation in Phase I, while more than two lakh teachers across disciplines will be progressively trained to integrate AI into teaching, learning and assessment. PSEB Chairman Dr Amarpal Singh said AI has been integrated into the compulsory Computer Science curriculum and that learning outcomes in the subject will now be reflected on students’ board certificates. Bains said the curriculum was developed after studying practices in Singapore, Finland, the UAE and the United States, and has been aligned with UNESCO’s Ethical AI Framework. He said the programme will be implemented by Neeev AI, with collaborations from Google, Intel, Canva and FA-AI for teacher training and AI literacy. What Officials Said Writing on ‘X’, Bains said AI is now a core subject in every PSEB school in Punjab, describing it as continuing the vision of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and being built on by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Addressing the launch, he said Punjab is “moving from leading the Green Revolution to leading the Artificial Intelligence Revolution." Sisodia said Punjab has “scripted history" with the launch and called it a national benchmark for AI education. During a panel discussion, he also raised concerns about recent examination paper leaks in the country and the ongoing protests in the national capital, calling for stronger examination integrity through technology-driven reforms. The panel included representatives from Neeev AI, Intel, Google, Amazon Web Services, Canva and FA-AI, along with Director School Education (Senior Secondary) S.S. Bal and Director SCERT Kiran Sharma. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered How will AI education impact Punjab's future workforce? Punjab is integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its curriculum from Class 1 to 12, aiming to equip students with modern digital skills and prepare them for future technologies. This initiative, part of the 'Sarbat. What are the long-term benefits of early AI learning?