New Delhi – The number of CBSE-affiliated schools teaching Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Classes 9 and 11 has gone up significantly. As per data shared by the Union Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, schools offering AI in Class 9 rose from 235 in 2019–20 to 4,543 in 2024–25 — an increase of 1,833%. Similarly, for Class 11, the number rose by 1,080%, from 80 schools in 2020–21 to 944 in 2024–25.
CBSE had introduced AI as an elective skill subject for Class 9 students in 2019–20 and for Class 11 students from 2020–21. It is available as an optional subject.
Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, replying to questions from BJP MP Sujeet Kumar, said the board had partnered with companies like Intel and IBM to develop the AI curriculum. “The curriculum and the content for the AI course was prepared by the board with support of experts from Intel, IBM and other higher educational institutions,” Chaudhary said.
The number of students choosing the AI subject has also seen steady growth. In Class 9, student enrolment increased by 2,900% — from 15,645 in 2019–20 to 4,69,454 in 2024–25. For Class 11, the number of students grew by 1,556%, rising from 2,048 in 2020–21 to 33,933 in 2024–25.
Many school principals and experts in technology believe AI is now a necessary part of school learning. They say that interest in AI is increasing due to its relevance and growing acceptance in education.
Educators advocate for AI-driven learning tools
Swati Yadav, principal of Bliss International Public School in Meerut, said, “With AI set to change how students will learn and teachers will teach in the future, we have trained our teachers in smart tutoring platforms to ensure our students are future-ready for digital classrooms. We believe that each student is different and hence our teachers are being trained to create customised study plans for weaker students and thus bring them at par with the others — by taking AI’s help in tracking their performance.”
Alka Kapur, principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh in Delhi, also shared her thoughts. She said, “Their (students’) interests are less about gadgets and more about exploring how technology works, affects life, and can be used responsibly to effect positive change. This reflects a change in mindset guided by curiosity with purpose.”
However, some educators raised concerns about over-reliance on AI in classrooms. Sameer Arora, principal of Shiv Nadar School in Gurugram, explained, “By using analogies, stories, and discussion, not just software, we help students understand not just how AI works, but what it means. Aligned with National Education Policy (NEP)’s vision for future-ready learning, our goal must be to teach students about AI, not lead them into dependence on it. However, before integrating AI in the school curriculum, schools must ask: Is it enriching student thinking? Does it free teachers for deeper engagement? Is it building capability or replacing it?”
Akshal Agrawal, co-founder of curriculum company Nature Nurture, said that more students are showing interest in AI not only because it is trending, but also because they want to know how technology works. “Over the past year or two, there has been a visible rise in students opting for AI electives. This is not just because of the buzz, it is because the subject feels real and relevant. Many students are genuinely curious to learn how the tech they use every day actually works. At the same time, there is growing awareness among parents and educators about the need to equip children with skills that go beyond academics,” he said.
Anurag Gupta, CEO and co-founder of STEMROBO Technologies, also pointed to a shift in how parents and schools view AI education. “They see the value in preparing children not just to use technology but to innovate with it. This momentum will only grow as schools continue to invest in 21st-century learning environments,” Gupta noted.
Minister Chaudhary added that CBSE held seven events between 2020 and 2024 — including two national skill expos, three ideathons, and two Future Tech Olympiads — with 35,000 students participating, many of them enrolled in the AI curriculum.
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