Delhi Students Are Using AI to Study Smarter, But Is It Costing Them Real Learning?

In classrooms and homes across Delhi, more and more students are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other educational platforms to help them with their studies. From summarising long chapters to writing essays and even solving maths problems, these tools are becoming everyday companions for school and college students. But while they offer speed and convenience, there’s growing concern among teachers and parents that too much reliance on AI might affect genuine learning, creativity, and thinking skills.

I wanted to write about this because I’ve seen how students around me are quickly adopting AI in their daily academic routine. There’s no doubt that AI can help reduce pressure and save time, especially when students are juggling tuition, school, and entrance prep. But the bigger question is — are we sacrificing understanding for shortcuts? As someone who values the long-term impact of education, I believe this is a discussion worth having. Students need to know where to draw the line. And educators must step up to guide them in balancing the use of AI without becoming too dependent on it.

How Students Are Using AI in Their Studies

AI tools are becoming part of study routines in schools, coaching centres, and even university campuses. Students use them for a variety of tasks like:

Summarising NCERT chapters or reference books
Drafting answers for assignments and homework
Solving complex numerical problems
Creating presentations and projects
Preparing for competitive exams using AI mock tests and doubt solvers

Platforms like ChatGPT are especially popular for generating essay content, creating quick notes, and even translating difficult English texts into simpler explanations. Apps like Brainly, Socratic, and Quillbot are also widely used for grammar correction and writing suggestions.

The Flip Side of Smart Studying

While all this may sound like a smart way of studying, many educators feel students are skipping the actual learning part. Teachers from Delhi government schools and private institutions have noticed that students are submitting work that doesn’t match their speaking or thinking level.

Here’s what some of the concerns are:

Students are copying AI-generated content without reading or understanding it
Written assignments often lack originality and personal touch
Overuse of AI is making students less confident in writing or thinking independently
Memory-based learning and deep understanding are taking a backseat

One teacher from a CBSE school in North Delhi said, “I had a student submit an answer about environmental issues using terms like ‘anthropogenic climate imbalance’. This is not the language of a Class 9 student.”

Are We Creating a Dependency?

AI is not the problem — how we use it is. What started as a support tool is slowly becoming a crutch. Students no longer feel the need to read the textbook or even attend extra classes because they believe AI can give them the answers. This creates a false sense of confidence.

Moreover, students are missing out on the practice that helps build retention, expression, and critical analysis. These skills cannot be learned by simply copying and pasting answers from an app. They come with repeated effort, mistakes, and revisions — things that AI shortcuts often skip.

What Can Be Done

The solution is not to ban AI tools but to teach students how to use them wisely. Schools and colleges in Delhi can consider these steps:

Conduct workshops on ethical and effective use of AI
Teachers should give more oral and application-based assessments
Encourage handwritten submissions and group discussions
Educators can even integrate AI into teaching but with guided instruction

It’s also important for parents to be aware of how much their children are relying on these tools. Sitting with them while they do homework, or asking questions from AI-generated answers, can help ensure learning is not lost.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.