AICTE Declares 2025 as Year of AI; Announces INR 40,000 Fellowship for Young Innovators

AICTE has developed over 600 textbooks in 22 Indian languages through its e-Kumbh portal, established 14,000 Institute Innovation Councils, and set up 400 Idea Labs for project-based learning.

AICTE declares 2025 Year of AI

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has declared 2025 as the "Year of AI" in engineering education and announced new initiatives to prepare students for a rapidly changing future.

Addressing the Star Global Education Conference 2025, AICTE Chairman Dr. T.G. Sitharam said that India will also host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, similar to the Paris conference held jointly with France last year. He said, "AI must be accessible and inclusive so that no student is left behind."

To ensure access, AICTE has entered into agreements with global platforms. Perplexity AI will provide 4 million free licenses, while ChatGPT has provided 500,000 school-level accounts and 150,000 Pro accounts for rural learners. AICTE itself has secured additional Pro accounts for government schools.

On innovation, he announced the AICTE Productization Fellowship, under which selected student teams will receive ₹40,000 per month for one year, extendable to two years, to continue their projects after college. He said, "Many students abandon their projects after placement. This fellowship will help them complete and commercialize their innovations." Furthermore, 5,000 fellowships have already been launched.

The Chairman also emphasized the importance of striking a balance between technology and values. Dr. Sitaram highlighted the Universal Human Touch Program (UHTP) based on SWAYAM and SWAYAM Plus, which encourages empathy, ethics, and social responsibility. The AICTE Chairman also urged students to make yoga and meditation a part of their daily routine. He said, "AI can give us powerful tools, but human values will build the citizens of tomorrow."

Supporting these efforts, AICTE has developed over 600 textbooks in 22 Indian languages through its e-Kumbh portal, established 14,000 Institution Innovation Councils, and set up 400 Idea Labs for project-based learning.

Speaking during the conference, Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman of the Jaipuria Group, said: "We are living in unprecedented times, where the pace of technological change is at a pace humanity has never seen before. The challenge before us is not only what AI can do, but also what it will mean for us as humans."