New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- The Union education ministry on Thursday announced that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become part of the school curriculum from Class 3 onwards, starting from the 2026-27 academic session. The move is aimed at advancing Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking (AI & CT) as essential components of future-ready education. A senior official in Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) of the ministry said that the government wants the children to be aware about AI at a foundational level. The department held a stakeholder consultation on Wednesday bringing together expert bodies including CBSE, NCERT, KVS, NVS, and external experts. CBSE has constituted an expert committee chaired by Prof. Karthik Raman, IIT Madras, to develop the AI and CT curriculum. According to the ministry, development of resource materials, handbooks, and digital resources will be completed by December 2025. "AI and CT will reinforce the concept of learning, thinking, and teaching, and will gradually expand towards the idea of AI for public good. This initiative marks a nascent yet significant step towards the ethical use of AI to solve complex challenges, as the technology will be organically embedded from the foundational stage, beginning in Grade 3," the ministry said in a statement. "Initially, the focus will be on creating universal awareness about what artificial intelligence is and how it impacts our lives. The students will later study them as elective subjects," the DoSEL official said. Teachers and experts have welcomed the move but emphasised that there should be teacher training on AI use in classrooms. "Teachers need proper training and clear guidelines on AI before introducing it to students in classrooms. It is crucial they understand not just how to use AI, but how to use it safely," said Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School, Delhi....