When Did AI Courses Begin in India? A Look Into the Rise of Artificial Intelligence Education 🇮🇳🤖

Let’s talk about something that’s changed the world—and no, we’re not talking about samosas or cricket (though, both are pretty legendary in their own right).

We’re talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI)—that brilliant, slightly mysterious tech that’s powering everything from your Instagram feed to your online shopping suggestions. AI is the buzzword of the decade, and guess what? India hasn’t just caught up—it’s riding the wave.

But that brings us to a really interesting question: When did AI courses actually start in India? When did this futuristic subject become something Indian students could study in a classroom (or, let’s be real, on Zoom)?

Buckle up, because we’re diving into the journey of AI education in India—from baby steps to full-blown degrees and a digital revolution.

🌱 The Early Days: AI Was a Niche

If you rewind to the early 2000s, AI wasn’t really a thing in most Indian classrooms. Sure, a few engineering students would touch on topics like algorithms or machine learning in their computer science curriculum, but AI wasn’t offered as a formal course, let alone a degree.

In fact, most people thought of AI as something super futuristic—like sci-fi movie material. It wasn’t part of mainstream education yet. If you wanted to learn AI back then, you had to go deep into research, hunt down international journals, or be part of some elite tech lab.

It was niche. Exclusive. And way ahead of its time (at least in the Indian education scene).

🚀 2018–2019: AI Enters the Classroom

Then came the turning point. Around 2018–2019, everything started changing.

🎓 IIT Hyderabad Makes History

In 2019, IIT Hyderabad became the first Indian institute to launch a full-fledged B.Tech program in Artificial Intelligence. That was a huge moment. Not just for the college, but for AI education in India as a whole.

This program wasn’t just a few elective classes. It was a full course—4 years, with AI at the core. Students studied machine learning, deep learning, data science, neural networks, and more, right from day one. Finally, India had an AI degree that stood on par with the best in the world.

The demand was off the charts.

💡 Other Premier Institutes Jump In

Once IIT Hyderabad opened the door, others weren’t far behind.

IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, and IISc Bangalore began offering AI specializations or integrated M.Tech programs in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
Institutions like IIIT Hyderabad, known for their computer science research, also started offering advanced AI courses and research opportunities.

It was like the AI party had officially started—and all the top universities wanted a seat at the table.

📚 UGC & AICTE Step Up

Now, you might be wondering: What about regular colleges and universities? Not everyone gets into IITs, right?

Well, here’s the cool part. Around the same time, both UGC (University Grants Commission) and AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) started encouraging AI education across the board.

Highlights:

In 2019, AICTE allowed engineering colleges to offer AI and Data Science as core specializations in B.Tech programs.
UGC recommended adding AI modules into existing curriculums, especially for computer science and IT courses.
Colleges began rolling out B.Sc., BCA, and even MBA programs with AI elements.

Suddenly, AI wasn’t just for research scholars or top-rankers. It was becoming mainstream.

🧑‍💻 The EdTech Boom & Online AI Courses

Now let’s be honest: Not everyone wants to go back to college to study AI. And that’s where India’s booming EdTech industry came to the rescue.

Platforms like:

upGrad
Great Learning
Simplilearn
Scaler
WhiteHat Jr. (for younger learners!)

…started offering AI courses online, many in partnership with institutions like IIT Madras, IIIT Bangalore, or even foreign universities like Stanford and MIT.

These weren’t just YouTube videos—they were full certification programs, often with projects, live classes, and job placement help.

Plus, there were also free government platforms like:

SWAYAM
NPTEL
AI for Youth (by MeitY)

This was AI education for the masses—and honestly, it worked. People from all walks of life (students, working professionals, even school kids) could now learn AI from the comfort of their homes.

🇮🇳 The Government’s Role: AI for All

India didn’t just leave AI to the universities. The Government of India got serious about AI too.

A few game-changing moves:

NITI Aayog’s National AI Strategy was launched in 2018, positioning AI as a priority for sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and smart cities.
The National AI Portal of India was launched in 2020 to serve as a hub for AI news, courses, startups, and projects.
CBSE added AI as an optional subject for students in Classes 9 and 10, encouraging early exposure.

That’s right—kids in high school could now say, “I’m learning artificial intelligence,” and actually mean it.

🌐 Why the Hype? Why AI, and Why Now?

Let’s pause for a second. Why is everyone so obsessed with AI anyway?

Well, AI is kind of like the engine behind most of the digital stuff we use:

Google Maps predicting traffic 🛣️
Netflix suggesting what to binge next 🍿
Chatbots answering your bank queries 💬
Face filters on Instagram 🤳
Self-driving cars (yes, even those are AI-powered!) 🚗

The job market is exploding, too. Roles like:

AI Engineer
Data Scientist
Machine Learning Expert
AI Product Manager

…are not just high-paying but in crazy demand. Companies across the world—and right here in India—are hiring AI talent like never before.

That’s why starting AI courses in India wasn’t just timely—it was necessary.

📈 Fast Forward to Today

So where are we now?

As of 2025, here’s what the AI education landscape in India looks like:

More than 500 engineering colleges offer AI or Data Science as a specialization.
Multiple IITs, IIITs, and private universities have launched AI research centers.
AI courses are being offered in regional languages to boost accessibility.
AI is now part of school curriculums, online platforms, and corporate upskilling programs.

In short, AI education has gone from “cool but niche” to “essential and everywhere.”

💭 Final Thoughts: AI is Here to Stay

Let’s wrap this up.

Artificial Intelligence courses in India didn’t just start in 2019—they started booming.

In a span of just a few years, we’ve gone from zero dedicated courses to a full ecosystem of AI degrees, online certifications, school subjects, and research hubs. Whether you’re a curious student, a mid-career professional, or a 10th grader with big dreams—AI is now within your reach.

And the best part? The future is just getting started.

So if you’ve been thinking about diving into the world of AI, there’s no better time than now. India’s already onboard—and there’s a seat with your name on it.

when artificial intelligence course started in india?