OpenAI on Monday unveiled its India-first Learning Accelerator, announcing a ₹4.5 crore research grant to IIT-Madras and the rollout of five lakh free ChatGPT licenses for teachers and students across government schools and AICTE-regulated colleges.
Calling India a “lighthouse” for its global education strategy, OpenAI said the programme will be co-developed with leading institutions to expand AI access, training, and research.
A core element is the IIT-Madras partnership, which will study how AI impacts pedagogy, learning outcomes, and cognition. Teachers will get premium ChatGPT features for lesson planning and student engagement, while students can access tools like Study Mode and interactive quizzes.
Highlighting inclusivity, OpenAI VP Leah Belsky said ChatGPT supports 11 Indian languages, works on basic smartphones, and is aimed at government schools to bridge — not widen — the digital divide.
India already has the largest student population on ChatGPT globally, and the accelerator will deepen research, expand access, and train educators to leverage AI effectively. Findings from IIT-Madras will be shared publicly to inform both pedagogy and product design.