As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day 2025, the conversation around education is increasingly turning toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) — its promises, pitfalls, and possibilities. While AI-powered learning platforms are revolutionising classrooms worldwide, experts say India must urgently focus on developing its own AI tools and indigenous education model to truly empower its teachers and students.

This discussion is vital because education cannot rely solely on imported technologies that may not reflect India’s unique linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic realities. Developing AI tools locally will not only ensure inclusivity and relevance but also strengthen national digital sovereignty. As we celebrate teachers today, it’s worth reflecting on how AI can assist — not replace — them, and how an India-centric education model can make learning more equitable and human-centred.

The Role of Teachers in the AI Era

Teachers remain the backbone of education, even as technology transforms how students learn. On World Teachers’ Day, the focus is not just on acknowledging their hard work but also on equipping them for the future.

AI-based tools can simplify administrative tasks, help identify learning gaps, and personalise education. However, as Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently highlighted, teachers must be trained to use these technologies effectively, and India must ensure that its own tools are developed in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision of accessible, quality education for all.

AI should assist teachers — not replace them. The teacher’s role as a mentor, guide, and emotional anchor is irreplaceable, especially in a country where classroom learning is deeply intertwined with values and community.

Why India Needs Indigenous AI Tools

India is home to over 260 million school students and more than 9 million teachers. Relying on foreign AI education models designed for different socio-cultural contexts can risk widening the digital and linguistic divide. Here’s why India needs its own tools:

• Linguistic diversity: India has 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of regional dialects. AI learning tools must understand and respond in local languages to ensure inclusivity.
• Affordability and accessibility: Imported tools often come with high licensing costs. Indigenous AI can offer low-cost, open-access models tailored to Indian schools, including rural and government institutions.
• Data privacy: Developing local AI ensures that sensitive educational data remains within national servers, addressing privacy and cybersecurity concerns.
• Cultural relevance: Education content must reflect Indian history, society, and values. Homegrown AI can integrate cultural and ethical perspectives better than global algorithms.

Teachers as Partners in Innovation

For AI integration to succeed, teachers must be co-creators, not passive users. India can learn from successful initiatives where teachers helped test and refine digital tools, ensuring their classroom practicality.

The Ministry of Education’s DIKSHA platform and PM e-Vidya initiatives already encourage teacher participation in content creation. Building on this model, AI-based systems can use teacher feedback loops to evolve continuously — making technology more adaptive and classroom-friendly.

Moreover, professional development in AI literacy should be a core component of teacher training programmes, both pre-service and in-service. Teachers must understand how AI decisions are made and how to use such tools responsibly.

Building a Homegrown AI Education Ecosystem

The path forward lies in collaboration — between government bodies, edtech startups, universities, and teachers themselves. India’s vast talent pool in technology provides a strong base for developing “AI for Education” ecosystems.

Some actionable steps include:

• Encouraging public-private partnerships to develop affordable, multilingual AI platforms.
• Integrating AI ethics and digital citizenship into school curricula to prepare students for responsible use.
• Supporting local startups and researchers working on AI solutions for education.
• Establishing AI research labs in universities dedicated to educational innovation.

If implemented effectively, these steps could make India a global hub for education technology innovation, with tools designed by Indians, for Indians.