India needs scale, coordination and interoperability for inclusive AI: Experts
New Delhi, Feb 14
While India has strong artificial intelligence solutions, the key mandate remains scale, coordination and interoperability, according to experts.
Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, stressed that AI must enhance inclusion, preserve language diversity, and strengthen all learners without creating divides.
He was speaking at the 'Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026' here that brought together an unprecedented gathering of India's education and technology ecosystem.
The conclave reaffirmed a collective commitment towards responsible AI-driven transformation of India's education ecosystem.
Three overarching conclusions emerged from the conclave: India already has strong AI-in-education solutions, but they need to be scaled to reach every learner; teacher support is the single biggest leverage point for improving learning outcomes; and the next phase requires a national orchestration platform.
Moderated by Professor Manindra Aggarwal, Director, IIT Kanpur, a session highlighted that states are shifting from monitoring to intervention-based governance using AI-enabled platforms.
Dashboards are enabling real-time decision-making, and integrated student-teacher-school systems are replacing fragmented tools. The discussion reinforced that scaling AI will require statewide ecosystem platforms rather than standalone solutions, an official statement from the Ministry of Education said.
Another session, moderated by Professor Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director, IIM Mumbai, emphasised that multilingual AI is essential for equitable national adoption.
Speakers noted that AI must strengthen teacher agency and support contextual pedagogy rather than drive uniform digital templates.
Practice-based learning frameworks were shown to improve learner engagement, and states showcased mature models integrating AI for teacher support, student learning, and governance, the statement said.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, School Education and Literacy, said the last two and a half days of deliberations were highly encouraging, showcasing the remarkable work being undertaken across the country by states, institutions, and organisations in integrating AI into education.
AI offers a unique opportunity to combine scale with personalisation through adaptive learning interventions tailored to the needs of every child.
He underscored that with equitable access at the core, these innovations can significantly improve learning outcomes, strengthen inclusion, and empower teachers and learners alike.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Multilingual AI is non-negotiable. My child's learning app only works well in English and Hindi. What about Tamil, Telugu, or Odia? Professor Kamakoti is right - we must preserve our linguistic diversity through tech, not erase it. A one-size-fits-all English-first approach will create more divides.
Teacher support as the biggest leverage point - 100% agreed! My wife is a teacher and she's overwhelmed with paperwork and non-teaching duties. If AI can handle attendance, grading, and admin, she can finally focus on what she loves: teaching. This could be a game-changer.
Working in EdTech here, the coordination problem is real. Every state seems to be building its own platform in isolation. A national orchestration layer for data and tools would save massive duplication of effort and taxpayer money. Hope the ministries can drive this collaboration.
A respectful criticism: We have a habit of making great statements in conclaves. The key is execution. We need clear timelines, budgets, and accountability. Let's move from "reaffirming commitment" to publishing a concrete roadmap with quarterly milestones. The vision is perfect, now we need the *peedha* (groundwork).
The shift from monitoring to intervention is brilliant! So far, most government dashboards just show problems (low attendance, poor scores). If AI can now suggest *actions*—like "Student X needs extra help with fractions"—that's real empowerment for teachers and officers. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.