OpenAI launches India Learning Accelerator with IIT Madras

OpenAI announced the launch of its first Learning Accelerator programme in India on 25 August 2025, in partnership with IIT Madras, the Ministry of Education, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The initiative is aimed at providing students and teachers with access to artificial intelligence tools and research support.

Partnership with IIT Madras

The Learning Accelerator programme will be operated in collaboration with IIT Madras. OpenAI has committed a USD 500,000 research grant to support studies on the role of AI in education, particularly through approaches informed by cognitive neuroscience.

Raghav Gupta has been appointed as Head of Education (India & Asia Pacific) at OpenAI to lead the programme. Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, confirmed the launch during the announcement.

Distribution of ChatGPT licences

As part of the initiative, OpenAI will distribute 500,000 ChatGPT licences free of charge to students and educators in India over the next six months. The licences will be provided through collaborations with the Ministry of Education, AICTE, and the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE).

According to OpenAI, the licences are intended to support both students and teachers in their educational activities.

Education-focused rollout

The programme will also include support for major curricula in India such as CBSE and preparatory resources for IIT entrance examinations. In addition, the initiative will offer resources in regional languages.

OpenAI noted that more than half of its Indian user base is below the age of 24, underlining the importance of the student demographic in the rollout of the Learning Accelerator.