India Prepares Students for the Future with the SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness Programme
India is taking a bold step toward preparing students for the future with the launch of the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) programme by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in July 2025. This new initiative marks ten successful years of the Skill India Mission and focuses on helping school students and teachers build essential skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital learning.
What is the SOAR Programme?
SOAR is designed especially for students from Classes 6 to 12 and their teachers across India. It offers:
- Three short modules (15 hours each) for students
- One 45-hour module for teachers
These courses introduce the basics of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Literacy, and the ethical use of technology. The aim is to make students curious, creative, and responsible users of technology while preparing teachers to bring AI-based tools into classrooms.
Why It Matters
As industries like healthcare, education, and finance are rapidly adopting AI, India needs skilled minds to lead this digital revolution. Through SOAR, students will not just become digitally aware—they will learn how to use technology to solve real-world problems.
The government has also announced a ₹500 crore Centre of Excellence for AI in Education to promote AI-based learning tools, develop Indian language AI resources, and create innovative classroom practices—moving education “from chalkboards to chipsets.”
AI in Schools and Beyond
AI is already a part of the CBSE curriculum for Classes IX and XI, helping students explore new-age subjects through hands-on learning. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also supports the inclusion of such modern and skill-oriented subjects to make learning future-ready.
Through initiatives like Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and PMKVY 4.0, thousands of young learners and apprentices are already receiving training in AI-related fields such as data engineering and machine learning.
The Road Ahead
The SOAR initiative supports India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, aiming to build a nation of skilled, confident, and innovative citizens. It ensures that students from all backgrounds—urban or rural—get equal access to digital learning and opportunities.
At Vidyashram Public School, Kota, we truly believe that the future belongs to those who learn to use technology wisely. Programmes like SOAR inspire us to keep moving toward an education system that blends knowledge, skills, and innovation to prepare our children for tomorrow.
Vidyashram Public School, Kota
– Empowering young minds for a smarter, digital future.
Shailendra Porwal
Principal