Aligned with ‘AI for Education, AI in Education’, the new curriculum marks a transformative step towards future-ready learning – Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, today launched the CBSE Curriculum on Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for students of Classes III to VIII at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Minister of State (C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, Shri Jayant Chaudhary along with Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy; Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Chairman CBSE, Shri Rahul Singh; Director, NCERT, Shri Dinesh Prakash Saklani and senior officials of Ministry of Education, CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya and NCERT were present on the occasion.

While addressing the gathering, Shri Pradhan said that the launch of the new curriculum on computational thinking and artificial intelligence for Classes III-VIII marks a transformative step towards future-ready learning at the start of the academic year. The initiative formally introduced structured AI education into the school ecosystem at scale, he added. He further said that the curriculum was backed by structured modules, comprehensive teacher handbooks, and robust student assessment frameworks, ensuring early and systematic exposure to emerging technologies and laying a strong foundation for the learners of tomorrow.

The Minister added that, aligned with the vision of "AI for Education, AI in Education," the initiative marked a decisive shift towards augmented learning by nurturing critical thinking, design orientation, and a culture of innovation among young minds. Shri Pradhan also highlighted that as India's leadership in technology-driven computing gains global recognition, the curriculum would empower students to meaningfully engage with and shape the digital future.

Shri Pradhan congratulated the Central Board of Secondary Education and National Council of Educational Research and Training for institutionalising this forward-looking framework and advancing a more adaptive, technology-integrated education ecosystem.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jayant Chaudhary said that education must now prepare young minds not just for a changing world, but for a world that will change in ways we cannot yet predict. He stated that artificial intelligence is already reshaping how knowledge is created, decisions are made, and economies function, making it imperative that our children are not passive users of technology, but thoughtful creators and responsible leaders of it. By introducing computational thinking from an early stage, we are laying the foundation for a generation that can learn, unlearn, and re-learn continuously, navigate uncertainty with confidence and transform disruption into opportunity. This is not merely an academic reform, but a national investment in human capability-aligned with the vision of NEP 2020, to ensure that India's learners are equipped not only for the jobs of tomorrow, but to shape the ideas, systems, and solutions that will define the future of the world, he added.

CBSE under the aegis of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, is implementing a Curriculum on Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence (CT &AI) to inculcate AI-readiness in school students. This curriculum will be implemented from classes 3rd to 8th, in the session 2026-27, and aims to develop AI-Ready learners by focusing on Computational Thinking Skills. The AI-readiness, so inculcated through CT Skills, will help develop the capacities of learners to use computational thinking, such as logical thinking, problem solving, pattern recognition, and so on, and understand the role and use of Artificial Intelligence in daily life. The Curriculum aims to build strong foundations in computational thinking, digital literacy, and responsible use of technology, along with nurturing innovation, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making capacities.

Relevance: Importance of Introducing CT and AI

Introducing CT and AI is vital for positioning students as future-ready digital citizens.

• Foundation for AI: Computational thinking is the intellectual backbone and cognitive framework required to understand and eventually create AI-driven solutions
• Cognitive Development: It fosters essential human capacities such as logical thinking, systematic problem-solving, and pattern recognition
• Preparation for the Future: Early exposure equips individuals with the ability to use data effectively and apply technology ethically, which is necessary for the modern world of work
• Holistic Growth: It promotes interdisciplinary learning, helping students see that knowledge is not compartmentalized by connecting Math, Science, and Humanities

Mapped with NEP and NCF 2023

The curriculum is directly aligned with national educational reforms:

• NEP 2020 Vision: It fulfils the goal of making India a global leader in emerging domains like AI and Machine Learning by integrating them into school education
• NCF-SE 2023 Alignment: The learning standards (Goals, Competencies, Outcomes) are derived from the framework suggested in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023
• Phased Implementation: Following NCF recommendations, the curriculum introduces CT first as a basis for learning AI later in higher classes

Approach / Pedagogy

The pedagogical approach is designed to be playful and experiential:

• Activity-Based: Learning is driven by fun math games, puzzles, and hands-on exercises using specialized worksheets
• Problem-Solving Focus: Teachers guide students to break larger problems into smaller parts and interpret visual representations like charts and diagrams
• Collaborative Learning: The curriculum emphasizes peer discussions and group tasks to solve problems collectively

Assessment

Assessment shifts from rote memorization to continuous and competency-based methods:

• Interactive Tools: Methods include written tests with CT puzzles, interactive group activities and the use of a Teacher Observation Journal to track progress
• Qualitative Focus: The goal is to assess a student's ability to apply knowledge and think creatively

Launched the AI & Computational Thinking curriculum for Classes III to VIII, along with Minister of State Shri @jayantrld ji, marking a transformative step towards future-ready learning at the start of the academic year. This initiative formally introduces structured AI education… pic.twitter.com/9R7UnDWs3W

At the launch of Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence (CT & AI) Curriculum of CBSE https://t.co/h3KUFiOR3t

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