Bodhan AI and India’s AI Education Stack

Context

1. India has launched Bodhan AI as part of its broader Bharat AI Stack to transform education using Artificial Intelligence.
2. The initiative comes ahead of the Global AI Action Summit (February 2026).
3. It reflects India’s push to build Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for education, similar to UPI in finance.

What is Bodhan AI?

1. Bodhan AI is an AI-powered education initiative designed by IIT Madras, under the Bharat AI Stack, aimed at improving learning outcomes from KG to PhD through personalised, technology-enabled education.
2. It seeks to create a public, open, and interoperable AI education ecosystem.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

1. DPI refers to government-backed digital platforms that are:
   1. Open-source
   2. Widely accessible
   3. Interoperable
2. Examples:
   1. UPI (payments)
   2. Aadhaar (identity)
   3. ONDC (commerce)
3. Bodhan AI aims to become UPI-like infrastructure for education.

Why AI in Education?

1. Based on the Bloom’s Two Sigma Problem, students perform far better with:
   1. One-to-one tutoring
   2. Personal mentoring
   3. Adaptive learning
2. Traditional classroom teaching alone cannot achieve this at scale.
3. AI enables mass personalisation of education.

Structure of Bodhan AI (Layered Model)

1. Foundation Layer
   1. Open-source algorithms
   2. Cloud computing
   3. GPUs for processing
2. AI Model Layer
   1. Education-specific AI models
   2. Indian language support
3. Application Layer
   1. AI tutors and chatbots
   2. Learning apps
   3. Content platforms (videos, infographics, lectures)

Students can access these through mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.

Purpose of Bodhan AI

India aims to move from Digital India to Intelligent India by:

1. Bridging learning gaps
2. Providing personalised tutoring at scale
3. Supporting teachers in:
   1. Lesson planning
   2. Paper grading
   3. Student assessment
4. Helping parents track learning progress
5. Generating data for better education policy design
6. Promoting inclusivity through all Indian languages

Implementation and Collaborations

1. Developed by IIT Madras under Bharat AI Stack
2. Open-source design allows startups and developers to build tools
3. Integrated with smartphones and digital platforms

Collaborations include:

1. IIT Bombay
2. Columbia University
3. IIM Lucknow
4. IIM Jammu
5. Bangkok institutions
6. Rajiv Gandhi Institute

The initiative will be showcased and expanded during the Global AI Action Summit 2026.

Implications

1. Education
   1. Personalised learning for millions
   2. Reduced dependence on costly private coaching
   3. Improved teacher productivity
   4. Better learning outcomes
2. Governance
   1. Data-driven education policymaking
   2. National-level performance tracking
3. Economy
   1. Boost to ed-tech startups
   2. Strengthening India’s AI ecosystem
4. Social
   1. Democratization of quality education
   2. Support for regional language learners
   3. Reduced urban–rural education divide

Challenges and Way Forward

Conclusion

Bodhan AI marks India’s shift toward intelligent education governance. If implemented inclusively and ethically, it can democratise personalised learning, strengthen human capital, and position India as a global leader in AI-driven public education systems.