Bengaluru, August 24, 2026: Karnataka is set to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) education from Class 6 onwards in schools across the state, in a major push to equip students with technology and digital skills from an early age.

The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during his Independence Day address on August 15. The initiative will be implemented through two programmes — AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula — aimed at giving students early exposure to AI and coding.

AI education to begin from Class 6

Under the proposed programme, students will be introduced to AI-related concepts from Class 6, with the broader objective of preparing Karnataka’s young population for a technology-driven economy.

The government says the initiative is intended to help students develop skills that can enable them to compete at the global level.

Rather than restricting technology education to higher classes or specialised courses, Karnataka’s plan aims to introduce AI concepts during the school years.

AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula

The state’s AI education initiative will revolve around two programmes:

AI Akshara Abhiyana

The AI Akshara Abhiyana is intended to promote AI literacy among school students and provide them with an early understanding of emerging technologies.

The programme forms part of Karnataka’s wider effort to make technology education accessible to students across the state.

Coding Gurukula

Under Coding Gurukula, students will have access to special classes focused on coding and AI skills. The government has described these classes as an opportunity for students to learn technology skills from a young age.

The initiative could be particularly significant for students who otherwise have limited access to private coding classes or specialised technology programmes.

Karnataka plans public AI university in Bengaluru

The school-level AI initiative is being announced alongside a much larger plan for higher education.

The Karnataka government is working towards establishing a government-owned AI university in Bengaluru, which the state says would be India’s first public AI university.

According to the announcement, AI certificate courses are expected to begin by January 2027, while AI Hubs are also planned across Karnataka to expand access to AI training and innovation.

This creates a potential pathway for students from school-level AI education to more advanced AI, data science and technology programmes in higher education.

Why AI education from Class 6 matters

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way people work, study and interact with technology. Introducing students to AI at an early age could help them understand not only how AI tools work but also how they should be used responsibly.

For schools, the initiative could eventually mean greater emphasis on:

• Coding and computational thinking
• Artificial intelligence concepts
• Problem-solving
• Digital literacy
• Emerging technologies
• Innovation and creativity
• Responsible use of AI

However, the precise curriculum, number of instructional hours, textbooks and assessment structure will need to be clearly defined as the programme is implemented.

Bridging the digital divide

One of the potential advantages of introducing AI education across the state is that it could make access to technology education less dependent on a student’s family background or location.

Students in government schools, particularly those in rural areas, could gain access to AI and coding education that is otherwise more readily available through private schools and external coaching programmes.

The government has also linked its AI plans to the broader objective of preparing Karnataka’s youth for future employment opportunities and global competition.

AI education needs trained teachers

The success of the programme will depend significantly on teacher training and school infrastructure.

Introducing AI education across thousands of schools will require teachers who are comfortable teaching concepts such as coding, algorithms, data and responsible AI use.

Schools will also need appropriate digital infrastructure, reliable internet connectivity and access to computers or other devices.

The government will therefore face the challenge of ensuring that AI education does not remain limited to schools that already have strong technology infrastructure.

AI and the future of school education

Karnataka’s announcement comes at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of education, business and everyday life.

For students entering higher education and the workforce in the coming decade, basic familiarity with AI could become as important as traditional digital literacy.

The state’s approach is therefore not simply about teaching students to use AI tools. Its long-term success will depend on whether students learn to understand technology, solve problems, think critically and use AI responsibly.

Karnataka AI education initiative: Key points

Initiative	Details
AI education	From Class 6
Coverage	Schools across Karnataka
Major programmes	AI Akshara Abhiyana & Coding Gurukula
Focus	AI and coding skills
AI certificate courses	Expected from January 2027
Proposed AI university	Government-owned university in Bengaluru
Additional initiative	AI Hubs across Karnataka

What parents and students should expect

Parents should note that the announcement represents a government initiative and rollout plan; the detailed curriculum and implementation guidelines will be important before judging exactly what students will study in each class.

Schools and parents should watch for further notifications from the Karnataka School Education Department regarding teacher training, curriculum, infrastructure and the implementation schedule.

A new direction for Karnataka schools

Karnataka’s decision to introduce AI education from Class 6 represents an ambitious attempt to bring emerging technology into mainstream school education.

If supported by adequate teacher training, infrastructure and a well-designed curriculum, AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula could give Karnataka students an early foundation in one of the technologies expected to shape higher education and employment in the years ahead.

The proposed AI university and AI Hubs could further extend that learning pathway, potentially creating an ecosystem in which students can progress from school-level AI literacy to advanced higher education and careers in artificial intelligence and related fields.