OpenAI Launches India-First Initiative: 5 Lakh Free ChatGPT Licences for Students and Teachers

OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, has announced a major education-focused initiative in India. The company will provide 500,000 free ChatGPT licences for six months to students and teachers across government schools, engineering colleges, and K-12 institutes.

The programme will be rolled out under the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, an India-first project designed to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms and enhance learning outcomes.

Transforming Education with AI

According to Leah Belsky, Vice-President of Education at OpenAI, AI has the potential to act as a lifelong tutor and learning companion for students, while helping educators save time for more impactful teaching.

“The broader goal is to enable a community of 5 lakh users, focusing on educators, and then replicate those learnings at scale,” Belsky explained during a media briefing.

Partnerships to Scale AI in Classrooms

To ensure widespread adoption, OpenAI has partnered with the Ministry of Education (MoE), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE).

• The MoE will help identify government schools where AI can improve lesson planning and student engagement.
• AICTE and ARISE will expand access to ChatGPT’s study mode, aimed at strengthening digital skills, employability, and practical AI use in education.

ChatGPT Study Mode for Smarter Learning

In July, OpenAI launched study mode in ChatGPT. Unlike traditional Q&A, this feature prompts students to interact with questions based on their objectives and skill levels, encouraging deeper subject understanding. The mode was developed in collaboration with teachers, scientists, and pedagogy experts.

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Research Collaboration with IIT Madras

Alongside the licence distribution, OpenAI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Madras to conduct joint research on the role of AI in improving teaching and learning methods. As part of the agreement, OpenAI will fund the project with $500,000.

“The intent is to study the long-term impact of AI on learning and publish findings that can help refine educational tools globally,” said Raghav Gupta, newly appointed Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific at OpenAI.

Expanding OpenAI’s Presence in India

This initiative also marks OpenAI’s growing focus on India. The company is setting up a new office in New Delhi and plans to hire talent across communications, marketing, and education roles.

With this India-first strategy, OpenAI aims to make AI accessible, practical, and transformative for millions of students and teachers shaping the future of learning with technology.