India's first AI-enabled state university takes shape as govt, Google join hands

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary has brought out the Government's plan for utilising Artificial Intelligence in the education and skill development sectors at Google's AI for Learning Forum held at New Delhi.

The Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, initiated the series of announcements on a historic partnership between MSDE, Google Cloud and Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut, making CCSU India's first AI, enabled state university pilot, a strategic move to realise the Prime Minister's vision of a technology, powered Viksit Bharat 2047.

There was presence at the event from top Google executives such as Preeti Lobana, VP & Country Manager, Google India; Chris Phillips, VP & Global Lead for Education, Google; Wilson White, Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google APAC and Yolynd Lobo, Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Cloud, besides other senior officials.

Delivering the keynote perspective during a fireside chat moderated by Ms Yolynd Lobo, the Minister emphasised the need to break silos between education and skilling, noting that technology-especially AI-serves as the critical bridge between classroom learning and industry needs.

Under the pilot, CCSU Meerut will function as a living laboratory for AI-led institutional reform. The university plans to deploy personalized AI tutors to students, skill, gap analysis powered by AI, and use smart document processing to make administrative work more efficient. The project aims to create an expandable system that can be used by the whole higher education sector in India.

The Minister emphasized that the affiliated colleges of CCSU would be the first to get the benefit of the pilot, and the knowledge gained would be utilized to spread the idea to more than 45, 000 colleges and over 1, 200 universities in India. He further pointed out that the Model ITI Scheme worth Rs.60, 000 crore of the Government is in perfect sync with these developments. This scheme would allow vocational institutions to combine AI, driven education with their existing infrastructure, which has been modernized.

Among the various initiatives, Google's grant of Rs.85 crore (around $10 million) to Wadhwani AI will be used to integrate AI tools in national platforms like SWAYAM and Poshan Tracker, aiming to reach nearly 750 million learners.

On a call for greater attention to the ground level, the Minister exhorted Google to extend AI facilitation to Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, pointing out that teacher empowerment in these schools is the secret to opening up digital avenues in far, flung areas.

Thoroughly emphasizing India's leading position, Shri Jayant Chaudhary expressed that products developed jointly for India's extensive linguistic and geographical diversity can become prototypes for the Global South.

"When we solve for India, we solve for the world. The AI tools being built for low-cost devices and vernacular users are global public goods. India stands ready to share these 'Made in India' education models with partner nations across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America," he said, reaffirming India's commitment to Vishwa Bandhu-friendship with the world.

Phillips outlined Google's approach to responsible AI in education, emphasising learning science, productive struggle, and tools such as Gemini, Search and NotebookLM showcased during live product demonstrations at the forum.

Drawing from CCSU's implementation, MSDE will develop a National Best Practice Framework enabling colleges and universities to self-credentials as "AI-enabled institutions." CCSU will also function as a Centre of Excellence, hosting knowledge-sharing sessions across the Ministry's network.

The forum concluded with a joint photo opportunity with Shri Jayant Chaudhary and Google leadership, marking a significant milestone in India's journey towards integrating AI across education and skilling systems.

The collaboration reinforces the Government's commitment to ensuring that every learner - regardless of background or location - graduates not only with a degree, but with future-ready skills aligned to the demands of the AI-driven economy.