JanAI shares roadmap to prepare India’s higher education system for an AI-driven economy

Bengaluru: Karnataka-based artificial intelligence initiative JanAI on Monday shared a draft report outlining a roadmap to prepare India’s higher education system for an AI-enabled economy with NITI Aayog full-time member R Balasubramaniam during a discussion in Bengaluru.

The discussion brought together more than 25 representatives from industry, academia, government, skilling organisations and civil society to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education, employment, workforce development and entrepreneurship, according to a statement from JanAI.

JanAI is an initiative of Head Held High Foundation, works towards building AI-enabled capabilities and inclusive opportunities for India’s future workforce.


The report examines two key shifts shaping India’s education landscape, the expansion of higher education and the growing adoption of generative AI among students. It highlights gaps in assessment practices, faculty preparedness, problem-solving capabilities, industry alignment and access to AI-driven learning opportunities, while exploring how institutions can better equip students for a changing job market.

The report is based on consultations conducted by JanAI across Karnataka between April and June 2026, including an AI in Higher Education Roundtable held during the Department of Higher Education’s Campus to Career Summit. The consultations involved stakeholders from academia, industry, government, EdTech and civil society.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for reforms in curriculum, assessment and faculty development, with greater emphasis on problem-solving, interdisciplinary learning and AI-enabled capabilities.

It proposes initiatives such as a national AI-enabled capability framework, assessment reforms, faculty enablement networks, Indian-language AI learning resources, challenge-based learning models, earn-while-learning pathways and institutional AI-readiness frameworks, the statement said.

“Educational institutions, industry and civil society need to work together to prepare young people for changes in the world of work driven by artificial intelligence,” said R. Balasubramaniam.

The discussion also focused on evolving recruitment patterns, entry-level employment trends, employer expectations and the need to strengthen links between higher education, skilling and industry requirements. Participants highlighted the importance of expanding AI opportunities beyond metropolitan centres to tier two, tier three and rural India.

Madan Padaki, founder of JanAI, said AI has already become part of higher education and institutions must focus on strengthening human capabilities such as judgment, creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurship alongside technology adoption.

He added that India’s AI strategy should be measured by its impact on students, particularly first-generation learners in regional colleges, and their ability to develop capabilities and participate in an economy where jobs are being reshaped by AI.

The report identifies faculty enablement, assessment reform, institutional readiness, problem-centred learning and a national evidence agenda as immediate priorities. It notes that many of the proposed reforms can be implemented within existing policy frameworks, including the National Education Policy 2020, National Credit Framework, Curriculum and Credit Framework and PM-USHA.

The report concludes that the key challenge lies in building institutional capacity, ensuring coordinated implementation and adopting an evidence-based approach to execution.