From Data Science to Robotics: NCERT Team Prepares AI Textbooks for 11th & 12th Grades

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is developing new Artificial Intelligence (AI) textbooks for senior secondary students based on the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). A specialized team of 16 members, including professors from leading IITs and industry experts, has been formed to design the syllabus and teaching-learning material for 11th and 12th grades.

New Textbooks from the Upcoming Session
The Ministry of Education has decided to introduce AI and computational thinking starting from Class 3, with textbooks ready for the new academic session. This initiative aims to give students early exposure to AI concepts, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge from the first day of school.

Experts from Top Institutes to Guide Curriculum
The syllabus and study materials will be prepared with inputs from experts from IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Jodhpur, IISc Bangalore, Center for Policy and Governance Delhi, NCERT, and CBSE, along with representatives from leading companies. Industry insights from Microsoft India and academic expertise from Azim Premji University will also contribute to designing a future-ready curriculum.

Curriculum Designed for Future Needs
The syllabus will reflect how AI is transforming industries and workplaces and what changes can be expected in the coming years. It will cover advanced topics such as mathematics, programming, machine learning, deep learning, data science (data mining and visualization), computer vision, and robotics. There will also be a strong emphasis on project-based learning to ensure practical understanding.

Common Curriculum for All Students
From next year, all students across boards will follow a common AI curriculum. NCERT will ensure the printing and availability of textbooks in time to meet the increased demand. While CBSE schools currently offer AI as an elective from Class 8, the new initiative will extend learning opportunities to students across all state education boards, making AI education accessible to a wider student base.

This initiative is expected to prepare students for emerging AI-driven technologies and equip them with skills that are increasingly critical in the modern digital economy.