New Delhi: OpenAI on Monday launched an “India-first” Learning Accelerator, announcing a Rs 4.5 crore research grant to IIT-Madras and the distribution of five lakh free ChatGPT licenses for teachers and students across government schools and AICTE-regulated institutions. Calling India a “lighthouse” for its global education strategy, the company said the programme will be co-created with leading institutions to expand access, training and research in AI-enabled learning.
A central element is the research partnership with IIT-Madras, backed by the grant, to study how AI influences teaching practices, learning outcomes and cognition. The six-month free licenses will provide teachers with premium ChatGPT access for lesson planning, assignments and student engagement, while students will be able to use advanced features such as Study Mode and interactive quizzes.
The company said the initiatives are designed to narrow, not widen, India’s digital divide. “ChatGPT runs on basic smartphones, supports 11 Indian languages and voice interaction, and is being proposed for government schools and low-cost, government-funded technical institutions,” said Leah Belsky, vice-president (education), OpenAI.
India is already home to the largest student population on ChatGPT globally, with millions of learners relying on the tool for homework help, exam preparation and exploring new ideas. Belsky said the accelerator is designed to ensure that AI deepens learning rather than shortcuts it, while supporting teachers with new methods of engagement. “We believe AI has incredible potential to empower educators and learners. To realise that potential, we must work side by side with educators and institutions,” she said.
OpenAI said the accelerator will advance on multiple fronts. Research will be led by IIT-Madras, with findings shared publicly to inform both pedagogy and product design. “Partnering with OpenAI allows us to push the boundaries of innovation and prepare the next generation of educators and technologists,” said V Kamakoti, director, IIT-Madras.
Access will be expanded through free ChatGPT licenses distributed via the ministry of education, AICTE and Alliance for Re-Imagining School Education (ARISE), while training programmes are being designed to build AI literacy and confidence among teachers and students. At the same time, tools like Study Mode, developed with feedback from Indian learners, will be deployed at scale to guide students through step-by-step problem solving and structured responses.
Raghav Gupta, head of education for India and Asia Pacific at OpenAI, said the initiative opens new possibilities for collaboration. “By working with universities, schools, government bodies and educators, we have an opportunity to truly transform education through AI, driving better learning outcomes while supporting India’s ambitions to be a global leader in AI-enabled education,” he said.
The announcements build on OpenAI’s recent expansion in India, including the opening of a Delhi office, the launch of ChatGPT Go at Rs 399 a month with UPI payments, an expanded OpenAI Academy literacy programme with MeitY, and enhanced Indic language capabilities in GPT-5. Positioning India as the testbed for global rollouts, Belsky underlined: “This is an India-first initiative. We hope the lessons here can guide the world on how AI can best be leveraged in education.”
A central element is the research partnership with IIT-Madras, backed by the grant, to study how AI influences teaching practices, learning outcomes and cognition. The six-month free licenses will provide teachers with premium ChatGPT access for lesson planning, assignments and student engagement, while students will be able to use advanced features such as Study Mode and interactive quizzes.
The company said the initiatives are designed to narrow, not widen, India’s digital divide. “ChatGPT runs on basic smartphones, supports 11 Indian languages and voice interaction, and is being proposed for government schools and low-cost, government-funded technical institutions,” said Leah Belsky, vice-president (education), OpenAI.
India is already home to the largest student population on ChatGPT globally, with millions of learners relying on the tool for homework help, exam preparation and exploring new ideas. Belsky said the accelerator is designed to ensure that AI deepens learning rather than shortcuts it, while supporting teachers with new methods of engagement. “We believe AI has incredible potential to empower educators and learners. To realise that potential, we must work side by side with educators and institutions,” she said.
OpenAI said the accelerator will advance on multiple fronts. Research will be led by IIT-Madras, with findings shared publicly to inform both pedagogy and product design. “Partnering with OpenAI allows us to push the boundaries of innovation and prepare the next generation of educators and technologists,” said V Kamakoti, director, IIT-Madras.
Access will be expanded through free ChatGPT licenses distributed via the ministry of education, AICTE and Alliance for Re-Imagining School Education (ARISE), while training programmes are being designed to build AI literacy and confidence among teachers and students. At the same time, tools like Study Mode, developed with feedback from Indian learners, will be deployed at scale to guide students through step-by-step problem solving and structured responses.
Raghav Gupta, head of education for India and Asia Pacific at OpenAI, said the initiative opens new possibilities for collaboration. “By working with universities, schools, government bodies and educators, we have an opportunity to truly transform education through AI, driving better learning outcomes while supporting India’s ambitions to be a global leader in AI-enabled education,” he said.
The announcements build on OpenAI’s recent expansion in India, including the opening of a Delhi office, the launch of ChatGPT Go at Rs 399 a month with UPI payments, an expanded OpenAI Academy literacy programme with MeitY, and enhanced Indic language capabilities in GPT-5. Positioning India as the testbed for global rollouts, Belsky underlined: “This is an India-first initiative. We hope the lessons here can guide the world on how AI can best be leveraged in education.”
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