Artificial intelligence is no longer bound in exclusive labs. Even students in Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities, or those in rural and remote corners far from the reach of top universities, can now access AI tools and courses, and develop actual AI skills.
At the centre of this revolution are India’s top schools, the IITs and IIMs, who are working to bridge the digital divide.
ONLINE COURSES THAT BRING AI WITHIN REACH
IIT Madras set the precedent by introducing five free AI courses this year on the SWAYAM Plus platform. Courses like AI/ML Using Python (36 hours), Cricket Analytics with AI (25 hours), AI in Chemistry, AI in Physics, and AI in Accounting can be accessed by anyone without any coding background.
The initiative is aligned with the National Credit Framework, allowing credits to be used for academic advancement.
At IIT Bombay, there is a short, hands-on certificate called GenAI for Business: A Hands-On Introduction, specifically designed for women professionals, running from September 11 to 13, 2025. It covers tools such as ChatGPT, DALLE, Gemini, Claude, and others.
For longer programmes, IIT Bombay offers an 18-month Executive PG Diploma in AI and Data Science through Great Learning.
The course involves Python, TensorFlow, deep learning, generative AI models, and cloud deployment techniques like Docker and Kubernetes.
IIT Delhi has also stepped in with a live, interactive certificate programme in Data Science and Machine Learning.
At IIT Guwahati, Project Vidya, in collaboration with GSL, is widening access by offering AI courses to students anywhere.
Its flagship Artificial Intelligence Quotient (AIQ) initiative introduces AI, robotics, and IoT into mainstream school education across India. It is tailored for working professionals with a maths or statistics background, blending theory with practice using real datasets and case studies.
In the south, IIT Hyderabad, which pioneered India’s first BTech in AI in 2019, has expanded into MTech, research assistantships, and a professional AI certificate programme conducted in partnership with TalentSprint.
IIMs AND AI REACHING RURAL INDIA
It’s not only the IITs leading the charge. IIM Kozhikode has developed a strong online programme in Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI.
The course includes pre-recorded lectures, tool familiarisation, quizzes, assignments, capstone projects, and extensive exposure to generative AI.
Meanwhile, in the rural enclaves of Bihar, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus has applied AI to support more than 30,000 landless and marginal farmers.
AI-driven weather predictions, crop disease detection through image recognition, and on-field demonstrations are helping farmers improve resilience and productivity.
BEYOND IITs AND IIMs
Alongside large-scale institutional efforts, smaller organisations and NGOs are reshaping how students in less privileged regions access AI learning.
Some run pocket-friendly workshops and courses designed for first-generation digital learners, while others tie up with government schools to introduce AI to students.
For example, two-hour introductory workshops on AI basics are offered at as little as Rs 9 or Rs 99. Structured certificate courses on robotics or machine learning are also available at a fraction of mainstream costs.
These efforts, often conducted in local languages and through community centres, are making AI literacy possible even in towns and villages once excluded from the digital wave.
Pilot projects such as AI-powered Anganwadis are also emerging, where adaptive apps and simple hardware engage children in early learning at ultra-low cost, supported by NGOs and local governments.
SCALING UP WITH REACH
Beyond these stand-alone initiatives, the National Programme on Technology-Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), managed by IITs, is scaling access further.
It offers massive open online courses (MOOCs) in local languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil, with remote proctored exams. While the courses are free, certification requires a small fee.
For rural students, this levels the playing field with urban peers who already have direct access to digital opportunities.
According to IIT Madras, no prior AI background is needed to get started. IIM-led rural outreach is also demonstrating how AI can serve not just individuals but entire communities.
DIGITAL EQUITY IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The common thread in all these efforts is quality and scalability. IITs handle the academic design, Python, ML fundamentals, generative AI platforms, and add-on qualifications such as SWAYAM certificates and PG diplomas.
Partnerships with platforms like Great Learning and TalentSprint extend their reach.
IIMs and NGOs deliver AI to grassroots communities. Professionals are upskilled with industry-calibrated training. Women business owners receive targeted GenAI introductions.
Farmers benefit from AI tools for weather prediction and crop analysis.
This revolution, though still in its nascent phase, signals a larger transformation. Sustaining it will require continuous investment in digital infrastructure, mobile-first content, rural awareness, and local language literacy.
India has already set the right template. With the most prestigious academic institutions making AI accessible to all learners, the next generation will think AI-first, regardless of their ZIP code. That is the kind of foundation a digital-first future demands.
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