NCERT and IIT Madras Partner for EdTech: A Game Changer for Indian School Education

In a significant move poised to transform the landscape of Indian school education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership, announced on October 27, 2025, aims to promote technological innovation and collaborative research in education, directly aligning with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The core goal of this collaboration is to leverage advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to enhance access, inclusivity, and the overall quality of education for every student.

The Vision: Digital-First and Multilingual Learning

The signing ceremony, chaired by Shri Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Secretary (SE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of India, emphasized a digital-first approach to content. Shri Kumar highlighted the critical need for all educational materials to be "born digital" and made accessible in all 22 Scheduled languages. This focus is crucial for supporting education in a child's mother tongue.

He also stressed the importance of developing rich, engaging content using modern formats like gamification, animation, videos, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

Integrating AI and Personalized Learning

A key area of focus will be the introduction of Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL). By developing strong pedagogical and technological tools, the partnership seeks to support the design of lesson plans and assessments using AI tools, ultimately addressing the need for future skills among students.

Key Focus Areas of the NCERT-IIT Madras MoU

The partnership will concentrate its efforts across several vital domains to achieve a comprehensive digital transformation:

• Educational Content

  Development and widespread dissemination of high-quality educational material.

• Teacher Development

  Enhancing the skills of educators through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of teachers.

• Technology Integration

  Implementing cutting-edge technology and AI/ML-enabled learning solutions.

• Research & Data

  Fostering collaborative research, managing big data, and applying analytics to improve educational outcomes.

• Inclusivity

  Actively promoting multilingual and inclusive learning platforms.

Statements from the Leadership

Leaders from both institutions expressed strong optimism about the future of this collaboration.

Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, stated his belief that this partnership is a significant step toward realizing the NEP 2020 vision by harnessing technology for accessible and inclusive education.

Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT-Madras, shared his delight in partnering with NCERT to create indigenous solutions that will strengthen the pedagogical and digital landscape of Indian education.

This landmark MoU signals a major commitment to advancing educational innovation and digital transformation, aiming to create future-ready learning ecosystems for all students in India.