In a landmark collaboration, OpenAI and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s IndiaAI Mission have jointly launched the OpenAI Academy India—marking the platform’s first international expansion. The initiative is designed to scale AI literacy and skills across the country by targeting a wide array of learners including students, educators, developers, government officials, nonprofit leaders, and small business owners.
The partnership was formalised with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between OpenAI and the IndiaAI Mission. As part of the arrangement, the academy will support the mission’s FutureSkills pillar with digital and in-person training programs offered in English and Hindi, with more regional languages to be added later.
Training for a million teachers and support for startups
OpenAI will provide educational content to the FutureSkills platform and to iGOT Karmayogi, the government’s capacity-building portal for civil servants. In addition, the company plans to conduct webinars and in-person workshops in six major cities, as well as host hackathons across seven states, targeting 25,000 students. Winners of these events will be invited to OpenAI’s global DevDay.
The academy will also extend support to Indian startups by offering up to $100,000 in API credits to 50 selected fellows or companies recommended by the IndiaAI Mission. A standout component of the partnership includes a pledge by OpenAI to help train one million teachers in the use of generative AI technologies.
Also read: Andhra, NVIDIA Join Hands for AI University
Advancing community learning and innovation
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the launch as a vital move toward democratizing access to emerging technologies and expanding community-level learning. “The launch of OpenAI Academy will strengthen India’s AI Mission by enabling greater community learning, fostering innovation, and accelerating the development of locally relevant solutions,” he said in a statement.
Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer at OpenAI, noted India’s rapid pace of AI adoption and innovation. “We’re proud to partner with IndiaAI to launch OpenAI Academy India and help more people gain the confidence and skills to use AI meaningfully in their work, communities, and lives.”
OpenAI Academy will offer learners free access to a range of resources including videos, tutorials, hands-on exercises, virtual sessions, and peer-learning opportunities. Its launch aligns with India’s broader national strategy to foster inclusive access to cutting-edge technology and position itself as a global AI hub.
