The Current Landscape of AI in Indian Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI), referring to systems that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks like learning, reasoning, and problem-solving, has permeated Indian universities and colleges at an unprecedented pace. From generative AI tools aiding students in drafting assignments to chatbots handling administrative queries, AI's footprint is evident across campuses. A recent FICCI-EY-Parthenon survey of 30 higher education institutions (HEIs) reveals that over 60 percent now permit student use of AI tools, reflecting widespread acceptance. Similarly, 86 percent of students report using AI in their studies, with 24 percent engaging daily and 54 percent weekly, according to the Digital Education Council survey.

This surge aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates technology integration for multidisciplinary learning and skill development. Elite institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Symbiosis International University lead with dedicated AI centers, embedding AI into curricula across engineering, law, healthcare, and even humanities. However, beneath this enthusiasm lies a critical disconnect: adoption is tactical and fragmented, while holistic, strategic implementation—scaling AI across teaching, research, administration, and governance—remains elusive.

Prevalence of AI Tools: From Pilots to Everyday Use

AI's entry into Indian higher education began accelerating post-2023 with tools like ChatGPT and Gemini becoming ubiquitous. Over half of surveyed HEIs (53 percent) employ generative AI for creating teaching materials, 40 percent for tutoring chatbots, 39 percent for adaptive learning platforms, and 38 percent for automated grading. Administrative applications, such as predictive analytics for student retention and personalized career counseling, are also gaining traction.

At IIT Madras, for instance, AI-powered platforms support virtual labs and multilingual content generation, catering to India's linguistic diversity. Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII) offers interdisciplinary programs blending AI with domains like journalism and design, preparing students for an AI-driven job market. These examples illustrate how AI enhances accessibility—virtual exchanges enable global collaborations without physical mobility, and adaptive systems tailor content to individual paces, particularly benefiting first-generation learners.

Yet, this prevalence is often confined to low-risk pilots. Half of institutions have AI research centers focusing on applied areas like healthcare diagnostics and agriculture, but scaling remains limited due to resource constraints.

The Strategic Implementation Gap: Why Scaling Fails

Despite the buzz, only 57 percent of HEIs have formal AI policies, with 40 percent still drafting them. The core issue is the absence of a roadmap transitioning from experimentation to institution-wide transformation. Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, notes in the EY-Parthenon-FICCI report, "AI is not just another digital tool; it’s an accelerator for access, quality, and employability." However, without cultural and operational shifts, pilots fizzle out.

Recent discussions at the Economic Times TechEDU India Summit 2026 highlighted this: leaders push for platform-level integration, but fragmented governance hinders progress. Strategic implementation demands aligning AI with institutional missions, yet most HEIs lack the vision to embed it across operations.

Infrastructure Deficits: The Digital Divide Persists

India's higher education landscape spans over 1,000 universities and 45,000 colleges, but infrastructure varies wildly. Elite urban institutions boast GPU clusters and high-speed internet, while state-funded rural colleges grapple with unreliable connectivity and power outages. The digital divide exacerbates this: only a fraction of institutions have computing infrastructure for AI model training.

• Limited GPU-based setups restrict hands-on AI exposure.
• Urban-rural gap: Tier-1 cities lead, Tier-3 lag in broadband access.
• Funding shortages: Public HEIs depend on sporadic budgets, unlike private peers partnering with tech giants.

The EY report urges regional AI excellence centers for shared resources, including cloud credits from providers like AWS or Google Cloud, to democratize access.

Faculty Upskilling: Bridging the Skills Chasm

With 17 percent of faculty identifying as AI-advanced and only 6 percent satisfied with training resources, the skills gap looms large. 43 percent cite time constraints as a barrier. Traditional pedagogy resists AI, fearing job displacement, yet AI augments rather than replaces educators—freeing them for mentorship.

NEP 2020's multidisciplinary ethos requires tiered training: baseline literacy for all, advanced for researchers. Initiatives like IITs' MOOCs and industry workshops show promise, but nationwide scaling needs investment. Step-by-step: (1) Assess current competencies, (2) Offer micro-credentials, (3) Integrate AI pedagogy in teacher education.

Ethical Dilemmas and Regulatory Voids

AI raises thorny issues: algorithmic bias in admissions disadvantaging underrepresented groups, data privacy breaches under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), and plagiarism via unmonitored GenAI. UGC guidelines treat undisclosed AI use as plagiarism, but enforcement varies.

• Bias mitigation: Audit datasets for regional representation.
• Transparency: Explainable AI for grading decisions.
• Governance: Adopt UNESCO AI Ethics framework.

Stakeholders advocate Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) for secure, student-controlled data.

Equity Concerns: Inclusive Growth or Widening Gaps?

AI could level playing fields via multilingual tools for 22 official languages, but without equitable access, it deepens divides. Socioeconomic disparities mean premium AI tools favor affluent students. NEP's equity focus demands subsidized devices and offline-capable AI.

Case: Kerala’s model integrates AI in regional languages, boosting retention among marginalized communities.

Case Studies: Lessons from Leading Institutions

IIT Kharagpur's AI partnerships with CRISIL yield student awards and research breakthroughs. IIT Bombay's curriculum reforms embed AI ethics. Symbiosis SAII's cross-disciplinary approach graduates job-ready professionals. Challenges: Even leaders struggle with scaling; IIT Mandi eyes 350 faculty by 2027 for AI expansion.

Government Push: NEP 2020 and Beyond

NEP mandates AI literacy from 2026-27, with UGC reforms accelerating tech adoption. Budget 2025 funds AI Centers of Excellence. National AI Mission aligns HE with economic goals, targeting 10 million teacher trainings.

Roadmap for Strategic Implementation

1. Phased rollout: Pilots to platforms.
2. Policy frameworks: Ethics-first governance.
3. Partnerships: Industry for infra, training.
4. Monitoring: KPIs for equity, outcomes.

Invest in federated learning for resource sharing.

Future Outlook: AI-Powered Viksit Bharat

By 2030, AI could propel India to global HE hub status, with EdTech market at 33.5% CAGR. Challenges persist, but solution-oriented approaches promise inclusive transformation. Universities must prioritize human-AI synergy for ethical, equitable progress.

For faculty eyeing AI roles, platforms like AcademicJobs offer opportunities in this evolving landscape.

Photo by Mayank Baranwal on Unsplash