AICTE, OpenAI ink MoU to democratise AI education in India
New Delhi, Sep 6: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OpenAI to advance artificial intelligence in education, with a special focus on reaching students and faculty in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Under the agreement, OpenAI will provide 1.5 lakh free ChatGPT Go licenses for six months, beginning with a pilot launch of 5,000 licenses before a nationwide rollout. The initiative also includes access to OpenAI Academy and ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programs for faculty to help integrate AI tools into teaching and research.
The MoU was formally signed by AICTE Member Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath and OpenAI India Deputy General Counsel Dan Cook. AICTE will identify institutions, facilitate access, and drive awareness campaigns to ensure effective utilization. Both sides will jointly evaluate learning outcomes and document case studies to measure impact.
AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam called the collaboration “a significant step towards empowering students and faculty with cutting-edge AI tools.” He said democratizing access to technologies like ChatGPT will foster innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
“AICTE has declared 2025 as the Year of AI to foster and promote artificial intelligence in education. This collaboration is perfectly aligned with that vision. AI is going to play a transformative role in shaping the future of education, and this initiative ensures India’s youth are prepared for the opportunities ahead,” he added.
Prof. Sitharam urged OpenAI to consider extending the free license period beyond six months and to give priority access to Tier-2 and Tier-3 institutions.
The partnership was formally announced at the OpenAI Education Summit held in New Delhi on August 25, where global experts and Indian educators deliberated on AI’s role in reshaping learning. Officials said the MoU would serve as a model for integrating AI into mainstream education, preparing India’s next generation of innovators and researchers for the global knowledge economy.
