Education Technology | Innovations and Insights - Edinbox

The Urban Development Department on Friday said it has made a big push to digitalize and modernize education in urban Uttar Pradesh, particularly in government schools.

Under some of the various flagship programs, the department is establishing more than 2,700 smart classrooms involving an outlay of approximately Rs 324.56 crore, it said.

"Out of these (2,700 classrooms), around 1,780 classrooms have been already built and are operational," the department said.

The scheme is greatly benefiting economically weaker section students from urban areas, it said.

"These children are becoming the recipients of modern, technology-driven education and are getting digitally empowered and due to this, the enrollment rate in the state has increased," it added.

To enhance school infrastructure in urban government schools, the department said it is constructing 2,700 smart classrooms under various schemes.

Out of them -- 1,183 classes -- have been established under the Smart City Mission at an authorized cost of Rs 160.83 crore, of which 1,088 classes have been fully implemented.

Also, under the 'Kayakalp' scheme, almost 190 smart classrooms have been established at an expenditure of Rs 57.66 crore, it added.

In the Aspirational Cities mission, 913 smart classrooms have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 29.43 crore. Of these, 408 are functional and 505 are under construction, it added.

Furthermore, another 398 classrooms have been sanctioned as well. The total 25 special classrooms are being built under the CM Abhyudaya Composite School Scheme and another 13 smart classrooms have been sanctioned under Vaishvik Nagaroday Yojana.

Another 4.25 crore has also been sanctioned for classroom construction under Kayakalp projects, according to the statement.

Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department Amrit Abhijat said, "We are taking urban education to the next level. These smart classes are not just connecting students with technology but also preparing them for the future." "This project has led to a noticeable rise in attendance and enrollment of urban government schools," Abhijat further said.

IIT Bombay is pleased to announce its first-of-its-kind e-Postgraduate Diploma (ePGD) in Integrated Circuits (IC) Design, a pioneering online program that aims to equip students and professionals with the latest skills in semiconductor technology. Teached and offered by the lecturers of the Electrical Engineering Department, this 18-month diploma course provides intensive study in semiconductors, digital and analog design, wireless communications, mixed signals, and system design to students and working professionals. Upon successful completion of 36 credits, the graduates are awarded a formal diploma by IIT Bombay, which will upgrade their qualifications for the changing semiconductor industry.

India is accelerating the journey of becoming a semiconductor nation with more than $18 billion invested in five semiconductor projects and the government targeting electronics production upscaling to $500 billion by 2030. IC design is increasingly becoming a core competency for the talent pool as the nation builds a complete stack chip ecosystem with strategic inputs, global collaborations, and self-reliance push.

In the launch ceremony, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay said, "We intend to make learning more accessible to a larger pool of talent from learners, including working professionals. With such courses, we are getting closer to providing specialized training in circuit design, enhancing their technical skills. This will enable professionals to grow in their career in semiconductor technology and seek new openings in high-performance computing and wireless communications. India's opportunity in semiconductors has been one of our highest priority areas in recent years, and we are very optimistic about emerging as world leaders in the space. IIT Bombay is deeply convinced that the program will lead us towards achievement of our vision of creating a large pool of talent of experts who upon imbibing the core concepts provided under this program will be able to contribute towards creating advanced technology for the nation."

The ePGD invites engineering graduates or professionals to this online diploma with the intention of offering superior studies and in-demand skills. The seven courses in eighteen months will be delivered by IIT Bombay faculty so that students get the finest learning experience with a curriculum that equips learners with specialized knowledge conforming to international professional standards.

Talking of the launch, Mr. Kashyap Dalal, Co-founder and COO, Simplilearn, said, "We are thrilled to partner with IIT Bombay. The e-Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Circuits Design from IIT Bombay is not only an academic qualification but also a symbol of excellence, a badge of world-class education and industry-focused experience. It provides quality resources, best-in-class study materials, to deliver an enriching learning experience. We together would like to groom learners who will bring futuristic knowledge to integrated circuit design."

"Artificial intelligence: the future is now." This tagline well encapsulates the present China, with AI no longer being merely a buzzword — it's a driving force behind ordinary life and international collaborations.

In the earlier part of this year, China followed France and more than 10 other nations in signing an international statement on AI development at the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris, committing to develop AI in an open, inclusive, and ethical manner. This is a demonstration of China's increasing leadership and responsibility in developing global AI governance.

One of the emerging stars in this tale is DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that's causing a stir globally. Unusually for many of its rivals, DeepSeek has gained recognition by enhancing algorithms to drastically cut computing power requirements — and by open-sourcing its model.

As Vrije Universiteit Brussel professor Lin Ying said, this open method provides useful materials for researchers globally with "a path for European companies to develop advanced AI models under limited computing resources".

DeepSeek's success is not only about technology; it's a glimpse of China's larger innovation environment.

From 'AI as a concept' to 'AI in daily life'

In China, AI is not limited to research labs or the corporate boardroom — it's integrated into everyday life. AI beautification features on smartphones; shopping centers have unmanned checkouts; hospitals use AI-based diagnostic tools; even farms are using AI-driven precision irrigation and smart fertilizers.

"Turns out AI is nearer than we imagined," many in China comment. What was once the stuff of science fiction — robot helpers, autonomous vehicles, art created by AI — is now a reality. From intelligent kitchens to AI teachers, from tailored suggestions to managing traffic, AI is no longer some distant vision but a reality that is making life better across the nation.

Aside from convenience, China's AI journey also presents global opportunities. Prof. Lin Ying pointed out that "while Europe excels in data privacy, security, and ethics, China leads in scaling and rapid commercialization." This complementarity presents opportunities for China-European cooperation, particularly in the establishment of joint AI standards and governance frameworks. In an era plagued by digital divides and ethical challenges, such cooperation paves the way for a more inclusive digital world economy.

This AI bonanza is not occurring in a vacuum. 2025 is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, an alliance that evolved from trade relationships into all-around cooperation. In 2024, China-EU trade totaled $785.8 billion, whereas two-way investment rose to $260 billion. These statistics are not merely figures, but networks — thousands of companies, scholars, and entrepreneurs linking across borders.

Take DeepSeek as a case, but look broader: Chinese carmaker BYD is constructing a fresh EV factory in Hungary; CATL battery factories are popping up in Germany, Hungary, and Spain; Chery's Spanish joint venture has already launched fresh models. AI has been part of this broader narrative of technology transfer and industrial integration.

When AI spans technology and culture

Interestingly, AI isn't only powering technological cooperation — it's building cultural bridges. As there are regulatory uncertainties surrounding TikTok in the West, European consumers are rushing to China's Xiaohongshu (RedNote) app. There, they're studying Mandarin, warbling Chinese pop hits, trying AI-made ink art, and engaging with Chinese content creators live.

AI, it appears, has become an unlikely "cultural translator".

China's cultural exports are also picking up steam with AI-facilitated localization. The launch of "Black Myth: Wukong", China's first AAA game, sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, fueled by AI translation software allowing global players to enjoy Chinese mythology. AI is not displacing culture, but instead, it is scaling it, introducing tales such as the story of Sun Wukong to global audiences.

"Technology knows no borders; cooperation has no limits." During the current AI boom, China is not trying to dominate innovation but establish knowledge bridges of opportunity, common growth, and mutual understanding. As one European expert phrased it: "To work with China is not just to access products — it's to access a vibrant future."

In fact, the future is both close at hand and far away. With AI, the world perceives an open, cooperative, innovative, and dynamic China.

In an age where adaptability is the need of the times, learning about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at school is no longer a choice — it's a requirement. In schools that are dedicated to the spirit of tradition and innovation alike, AI is not a course; instead, it is the door to the future.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer far-off ideas of technology. Now they are transforming the way we live, work, and learn as well. Realizing the potential, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had recently stated that it is essential that we introduce these new technologies into our classrooms, so that the students are future-ready.

In 2022, UNESCO itself had come out with a report on how AI might transform the Indian classrooms. Entitled 'State of the Education Report (SOER) for India: Artificial Intelligence in Education – Here, There and Everywhere', the report asserted that to responsibly incorporate Artificial Intelligence in education, it is essential to place ethics at the forefront, create a well-balanced regulatory system, and build robust public-private partnerships.

In answer to this call, schools throughout the nation are rising to the challenge.

"Embracing AI and ML has revolutionized our students' learning in a big way. They make learning personalized, improve critical thinking, and prepare one with skills for the future," said Ajay Singh, Principal, The Scindia School to Times Now Digital. According to him, now students are working on real projects, i.e., drone projects, where they implement concepts of AI practically with innovation and leadership.

While schools are now adopting AI as a curriculum component, the experts opine that AI must be introduced from the early days. "It demystifies technology and triggers curiosity, analytical and problem-solving ability at an early age. Our learning content should respond to the skills that the future requires," opined Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal, DPS Raj Nagar Extension.

With the world changing so quickly and corporations looking to hire AI-conscious talent, Indian educational institutions realize that it is not just the right time to adopt AI in school education, but it is also a must.

Yet, there are precautions taken by teachers so that the right age-relevant AI content can prepare students for a future where automation, data science, and smart systems will touch every vocation.

AI: A Tool for All Learners, Not Just High Achievers

Unfortunately, some schools are limiting education in AI to those students who scored more than 80 per cent, and others are against it. Times Now Digital discovered that most schools prefer differentiated learning plans where students learn AI depending on the mode of learning and interests instead of strict performance levels. "Denying education in AI to high scorers goes against the very purpose of education," DPS principal Pallavi stated.

AI will be able to boost learning outcomes by engaging a multifaceted group of learners in innovative and analytical manners, most practitioners are convinced. "Artificial intelligence is not something that only high achievers get to experience—it's a basic tool that all students should have access to," Singh commented. "Limiting access may snuff out curiosity and discourage students who possess potential but have yet to achieve it academically."

Preparing Educators for AI Era

Teacher training with AI competence is the start of student training with AI competence. Against this background, schools are also investing in training their faculties so that they can teach AI education more effectively. In December 2024, the Delhi Government planned to establish Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labs in some schools. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is also reported to create Artificial Intelligence-based courses.

Private schools are also stepping forward. Mukta Rana, a Sanskrit teacher at Mayur School was more than happy to brief us about how the teachers and students are adopting AI and technology for studies. "Earlier we would go to Computer or Science labs weekly, now each class has its own lab and we teachers also pay special attention to the practical side. Trust me, class 6 kids are constructing robots." We were all surprised to witness this sort of talent at such a young age," she added.

The teachers of DPS have conducted workshops and certifications in CBSE, IBM, Intel, and other forums. The teachers are also regularly updated with the current developments through in-house sessions as well as from the IT industry experts.

Scindia School also gives extremely high importance to teacher training. "Our teachers are trained to explain complex AI concepts in simple, age-appropriate language. We invest in ongoing upskilling to ensure our teaching meets international standards" said Singh.

Anju Soni, Shiv Nadar School, Noida Principal testified, "We have to integrate AI into textbooks because it gives immediate feedback and course correction to students, thus making a closed loop of feedback that accelerates learning. Our teachers intentionally leverage AI tools like Diffit and Khanmigo to improve teaching and learning. Some of the tasks are specifically designed to enable students to use AI as a tool for exploring critical and creative thinking, enabling innovation along with acquiring key 21st-century skills."

AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

Education with the integration of AI brings interdisciplinary learning, innovation, and worldwide employability within its reach. That being said, it does have challenges too. Schools would have to upgrade infrastructure, reform curriculum as well as train teachers in order to keep up with fast-changing technologies.

Arav, a class 5 student of a Patna private school said that his school lacks proper infrastructure."We are given just 1 Computer class a week and there too instructors get occupied in explaining bits of the computer and tell us to draw on MS Paint. My Computer textbook chapter has MS Logo and lots of other things, but we are only asked to keep discipline and draw on MS Paint every week."

Personally, however, he is using AI for assistance and information. "I feel that AI is better than Wikipedia, at least I get to know if the source is original or not. I do use AI to assist me in writing essays and slogans."

Another Delhi class 12 student, Yash, provided a differing viewpoint. He emphasized how the technology integrated has occurred in his school life and his life at home as well."I do assignments and projects at school using AI tools, and even study things that I am passionate about, such as coding and graphic design. We use it at school in computer class and even for science experiments. At home, I will have AI recommend things to me, It's like having a genius assistant on hand."

Parents also need to be trained for this shift of technology. Parent orientation has the potential to acclimatize parents to AI in ways that go beyond its uses to screens and games. Parents should be taught how it will best equip their children to navigate a world with future complexities. The challenge will be to provide equal access to learning about AI and balancing technological advancement with core human values.

In most schools, such a balance is in the pipeline already. AI is not a human teacher substitute but a useful tool to assist with individualized learning, with creativity, and in support of their tradition of wholeness in excellence.

Sometimes life makes a sudden turn, the kind that no man can ever anticipate. Such is one such story, recently published on Humans of Bombay, of Ramya Krishna's brother — a young man who lost almost everything at 18, but found strength, meaning, and a new life in the face of unimaginable hardship.

It began on a rainy November 2012 night in Vijayawada. Vijay's brother was just 18 years old. He had gone to see a movie with friends. But when there were no tickets, they considered going back home. They traveled in the opposite direction on slippery roads while going back, and their bike skidded. His friend got up, but Vijay's brother did not. Words that are etched in her mind are his own: "Kuch mehsoos nahi ho raha.".

Suddenly, it was all different with that single moment. The family had a call at midnight. "Bhaiya ka accident hua hai," her father told her, his face pale with fear. And then came a haze of hospital visits, surgeries, and second opinions. Though he did not have any outward injuries, the verdict was horrific: a spinal cord injury paralysing him from the neck down.

Months passed, and their existence was hospitals, rehab facilities, and times of isolation. Ramya recalls that her brother was mostly silent, yet at times of complete despair. Everything changed for him in 2014 when a family friend in the US provided him with a mouthstick, an attachment system that enabled one to control a computer cursor as a substitute for both arms and hands through basic head movement.

One of those items of technology was his gateway to the world once more. He began watching YouTube videos, reading technology news, and learning. He hired a tutor in 2015 and learned Java. By 2017, he was working on a freelance basis. And by 2020, he was at a UK startup.

Now he leads the mobile development team in the same company from a hospital-like bed. He is unable to sit for eight hours, tires easily, and has chronic physical incapacities. But he goes to office daily, driven by determination and unwritten will. His "Main kar sakta hoon" was not a personal motto but a ray of hope for everyone around him.

The story touched netizens so much that they thronged the comment section with praise and encouragement. Numerous of them thought it was the most inspiring source while some of them praised how the story inspired hope to people who were experiencing hardships. Messages simply did not cease but overflowed with prayers, love, and encouragement—the tribute to his resilience in staying firm giving hope to many who are out of reach.

As Ramya herself said, "Jab tak tum mei himmat hai, tab tak tumhe koi nahi rok sakta (Nobody can stop you as long as you have courage)."

India's defence technology is flying high to new dimensions—and it's lifting off from within a classroom. Central to this revolution is IIT Kanpur, now becoming the country's leading drone technology center, by marrying cutting-edge research with hands-on teaching to define the next generation of military-tech leaders.

Lying within the campus of IIT Kanpur is a 60-year-old airstrip that was once an emblem of the past. Today, it's been reimagined as an advanced flight laboratory where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are designed, tested, and perfected. This is not merely an exercise in creating machines—it's about training minds that will reorient India's future to contemporary warfare.

From mini-drones to surveillance UAVs with large-mileage capabilities, all prototypes that are developed here have student researchers, doctoral scholars, and defence experts in harmony. For students of IIT Kanpur, drone technology isn't a blackboard theory—it's a hands-on class in the skies, where each test flight hones both machines and minds.

In a technology-driven world where the new battlefield is here, the incorporation of drone education into regular engineering courses is an important turning point. AI courses, courses in robotics, avionics, and aerospace engineering now have direct application in national security. Students are not merely learning engineering—students are learning to tackle actual defence problems.

This research- defence collaboration is already paying off. Drones engineered at IIT Kanpur are being used to equip India's forces, demonstrating that home-grown innovation is not only feasible—it's flourishing. With drone research and education under one umbrella, IIT Kanpur ensures Indian military readiness starts not merely on the border but also within the classrooms.

As India makes a push for its Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision, such initiatives confirm that defence education is not only confined to military academies anymore. Institutions such as IIT Kanpur are building tech-savvy patriots, ones who are prepared to innovate, defend, and lead.

Defending the nation in today's age begins with empowering its students—and IIT Kanpur is leading the way.