Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Indian Higher Education Faces Reality Check on AI Readiness
Many students now use AI to help them learn and do schoolwork.
A new report says colleges in India have not caught up with this change.
Some schools have rules about AI, but those rules do not always change what happens in classrooms.
Experts say AI can help students find information, but students still need to think carefully and decide whether the information makes sense.
One example at IIM Bangalore used AI in exams to test students’ reasoning.
The report says colleges should train teachers, rethink exams, and give students clearer guidance.
It also says schools should work more closely with employers.
The goal is not simply to use more AI, but to help students think and make sound decisions.
An EY-Parthenon and FICCI report says Indian higher education institutions are struggling to keep pace with students’ rapid AI use.
The report draws on insights from more than 61 stakeholders across over 23 institutions.
Institutions often treat AI mainly as a compliance issue, while policies are not consistently reflected in classroom practice.
The report and education experts stress that AI may support research, but students must retain responsibility for critical thinking and judgement.
Recommendations include discipline-specific faculty training, redesigned assessments, clearer governance, student guidance, and closer industry collaboration.
- Who
- Indian higher education institutions, students, faculty and employers; the report was produced by EY-Parthenon and FICCI.
- What
- A report says institutions are lagging behind student AI use and calls for a shift from AI adoption to AI readiness.
- When
- The report was released last week; no specific date is given.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- AI is rapidly changing how students learn and prepare for work, while institutional policies and practices are struggling to keep pace.
AI as a learning aid
AI over-reliance concern
Using AI in education
AI as a learning aid
AI can assist with research and information gathering, and assessments can be redesigned to test reasoning rather than rote memory.
AI over-reliance concern
Students may outsource too much of the work to AI, blurring the line between assistance and intellectual over-reliance.
Institutional response
AI as a learning aid
Some institutions, including IIM Bangalore in the example cited, are experimenting with integrating generative AI into exams.
AI over-reliance concern
The report says many institutions rely on compliance policies and committees that do not consistently translate into classroom practice.
- Report
- ‘From AI Adoption to Readiness: Preparing Indian Higher Education for the AI era’
- Authors
- EY-Parthenon and FICCI
- Research input
- Insights from more than 61 stakeholders across 23-plus institutions
- Main concern
- A gap between written AI policies and their implementation in classrooms
- Suggested shift
- Focus on AI readiness rather than AI adoption alone
- Recommended measures
- Discipline-specific faculty development, redesigned assessment, stronger governance, clearer student guidance and deeper industry collaboration
- Institutional example
- IIM Bangalore integrated custom GenAI platforms into exams to assess critical thinking and prompt evaluation