Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Wednesday introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mainstream subject from Class 1 to 12, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said.
Punjab has become the first state in the country to do so, he said.
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will roll out the curriculum in a phased manner under the ‘Sarbat.AI’ project, making it one of the country’s largest statewide AI education missions and positioning Punjab as a national leader in future-ready learning.
Bains, along with 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.
Addressing a gathering, Bains said, “Today marks the beginning of a new era in Punjab’s education system. Punjab has become the first state in India to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a mainstream subject from Class 1 to 12. We are moving from leading the Green Revolution to leading the Artificial Intelligence Revolution.”
“This initiative will equip our students with future-ready skills while fostering innovation, ethical AI, entrepreneurship and responsible digital citizenship.
We want every child in Punjab to be prepared not only for the jobs of tomorrow but also to become creators and innovators in the technology-driven world,” he said.
The curriculum has been developed after studying international best practices from Singapore, Finland, the UAE and the United States. It has been aligned with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)’s Ethical AI Framework to ensure that our students learn the responsible, safe and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence while meeting global standards, Bains said.
Explaining the implementation plan, Bains said, “Phase I will begin with Classes 8 to 12 by integrating AI into the Computer Science curriculum in government and affiliated private schools.”
Students will learn through live online classes, recorded lectures, project-based learning, continuous assessments and a dedicated Learning Management System. In Phase II, AI education will be expanded to Classes I to VII, ensuring that every child in Punjab receives age-appropriate AI education from the foundational years, he stated.
The programme builds on the success of PSEB’s AI Pilot Programme conducted in collaboration with FA-AI, which culminated in a statewide AI Hackathon.
Student innovations developed during the pilot have demonstrated the immense potential of our children, and some of these projects are being showcased today, he stated.
“The programme will be implemented technologically by Neeev AI and strengthened through strategic collaborations with Google, Intel, Canva and FA-AI to enhance AI literacy, teacher capacity building, innovation and workforce readiness,” he added.
This programme will eventually benefit 25,172 schools and nearly 31.5 lakh students. In Phase I, 12,424 Computer Science teachers will lead implementation, while more than two lakh teachers across all disciplines will be progressively trained to integrate AI into teaching, learning and assessment, he said.
AAP leader Sisodia said, “Punjab has scripted history with the launch of this project and has established itself as a national benchmark for AI education. This initiative reaffirms the state’s commitment to preparing students not merely to use Artificial Intelligence but to innovate with it, create with it and lead in the technology-driven future.”
Sisodia also expressed concern over the alleged recent examination paper leaks in the country and the ongoing protests in the national capital.
He stressed the need to strengthen examination integrity through technology-driven reforms and robust educational systems.
