Photo credit: X/@Ccsumeerut

NEW DELHI: From AI tutors that speak regional languages to smarter campus systems that cut paperwork, India is taking its first big step towards AI-powered higher education — starting with a pilot project at Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut.On Wednesday, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) announced a partnership with Google Cloud and CCSU to build India’s first AI-enabled university. The project aims to create a national model that can later be adopted by colleges and universities across the country.The initiative was launched at Google’s AI for Learning Forum in Delhi in the presence of skill development minister Jayant Chaudhary. CCSU has been chosen as the pilot campus, where new AI tools will be tested before being scaled nationally.Under the programme, Google Cloud’s Gemini platform will be used to support both learning and administration. Students will get access to personalised AI tutors that help them study at their own pace and identify skill gaps linked to job requirements. Faculty members will be able to use AI to prepare teaching material, simulations and multilingual content. University offices, meanwhile, will adopt automation to reduce routine paperwork and speed up processes. Placecom will handle the technical rollout.Officials said the larger goal is to make quality education more accessible, especially for students in regional institutions who often lack exposure to advanced learning tools. The focus is on removing barriers linked to language, location and resources.Chaudhary said the project is about preparing students for the future workforce, not just awarding degrees. By giving teachers modern digital tools and campuses smarter systems, he said, students everywhere can be readied for the AI era.Google India’s country manager and VP, Preeti Lobana said CCSU will serve as a testing ground for new learning models, including personalised education and AI-based career guidance.Based on results from this pilot, MSDE plans to develop a National Best Practice Framework that can guide over 50,000 colleges and 1,200 universities in adopting AI. CCSU will also act as a centre of excellence, sharing its experience with other institutions.The outcomes of the Meerut pilot will be used by MSDE to frame national guidelines for wider adoption of AI across higher education institutions.