OpenAI has unveiled a major education-focused initiative in India, announcing that it will provide five lakh free ChatGPT Plus accounts to students and teachers over the next six months. This large-scale rollout, one of the company’s biggest education programmes to date, will be implemented in collaboration with government bodies and schools across the country.
The distribution will be carried out through three primary channels. The Ministry of Education will facilitate access for government school teachers handling Classes 1 to 12. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will extend the offering to technical institutes nationwide, enabling students and faculty to build stronger digital and research skills. Additionally, ARISE network schools will make the tool available to K-12 educators, allowing them to experiment with AI in daily classroom teaching.
This initiative is part of the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, a programme that is debuting in India before being introduced in other global markets. The company explained that the aim is not merely to give students quick answers, but to help them use AI as a tool for deeper subject understanding and skill-building.
To lead its education strategy in the region, OpenAI has appointed Raghav Gupta, former head of Coursera’s India and Asia-Pacific operations, as Head of Education for India and APAC. Gupta emphasized that “education in India is at a stage where AI can make a real difference.” He added that the focus will be on working with schools and institutions to enhance learning outcomes while preparing students for a future where AI proficiency will be essential.
OpenAI is also investing in research to study AI’s role in education. It has partnered with IIT Madras on a long-term project backed by $500,000 in funding, which will assess how AI platforms like ChatGPT can reshape teaching methods and benefit learners over time.
Marking its growing presence in India, OpenAI confirmed plans to establish its first office in New Delhi later this year. India is already the world’s largest student market for ChatGPT, with millions using it for assignments, test prep, and projects.
To further support accessibility, the company has launched an India-specific subscription plan at Rs 399 per month with UPI payment options and is partnering with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to roll out OpenAI Academy, an AI literacy programme for teachers and students.
