Introduction

A Centre of Excellence (CoE) is an entity that provides leadership, best practices, research, support, and training in a specific focus area. In the Indian context, CoEs are established to drive innovation, enhance skill development, and address sector-specific challenges by fostering collaboration among government bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners. The literal meaning of a Centre of Excellence is – ‘A place where the highest standards are maintained.’ Establishing a CoE requires a clear purpose and strategic roadmap.

The Union Budget 2025-26 marks a significant step towards transforming the educational and technological landscape with the announcement of the Centre for Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Education. Five National Centres for skilling and upskilling, focusing on robotics, AI, and cybersecurity are envisioned to drive innovation in education by integrating AI for both educators and learners, enhancing the quality of education and improving employability. As of February 2025, the specific institutions designated as ‘National Centres’ for CoE in AI for education have not been officially announced by the Indian Government. This CoE aims towards establishing India as a pivotal player in the global AI ecosystem by aligning skilling and upskilling initiatives with global expertise.

Analysis

Precedents for CoE in AI for education have been the establishment of three CoEs focusing on healthcare, agriculture and sustainable cities. Leading this initiative, IIT Delhi, IIT Ropar and IIT Kanpur were designated as key institutions for implementing these AI- driven research and development hubs. An apex committee led by Shri Sridhar Vembu structured these CoEs within top academic institutions. A Centre for Excellence for Research on Clean Air (CERCA) established on 1st April, 2018 has been desiccated to address the air pollution and climate challenges particularly in Delhi NCR. CERCA has undertaken multiple projects including collaboration with the World Bank, NASA and industry players to improve the air quality monitoring and emission reducing strategies. IIT Ropar leads efforts in integrating AI into agriculture, aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability. Similarly, IIT Kanpur spearheads AI research on sustainable cities, tackling challenges like energy forecasting, air quality, urban flooding and transportation management. On January 27, 2025, IIT Indore inaugurated AgriHub, a CoE for Sustainable agriculture. In line with these advancements the union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech, the establishment of a CoE in AI for Education with an outlay of  ₹500 crore. 

The CoE for AI in education aims to personalise learning, improve assessment systems and enhance teacher training. With India witnessing a significant growth in its AI sector– projected to expand from the current 600,000-650,000 AI professionals to over 1.25 million by 2027 at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 15% as per Nasscom– the establishment of this CoE comes at a crucial time. While the previously announced CoEs have set the groundwork for AI driven innovations in India, the introduction of CoE in education further strengthens India’s credentials as a global leader in AI, ensuring that the country remains at the forefront of AI-enabled learning and workforce development. The  five National Centres of Excellence (NCEs) for Skilling, developed through global partnerships, aim to equip India’s youth with industry-relevant skills, aligning with the “Make for India, Make for the World” initiative. The partnerships will encompass curriculum design, training of trainers, skill certification frameworks, and periodic assessments to ensure the programs meet international standards.  Additionally, the budget outlines plans to upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), benefiting approximately 2 million youth. This move is expected to strengthen the vocational education framework further, providing students with practical skills and improving their employment prospects. 

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