What Happened
- The Maharashtra state government granted administrative approval to procure AI infrastructure for its Higher and Technical Education Department, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision.
- The estimated annual expenditure sanctioned is Rs 22 lakh for the AI infrastructure.
- The procurement will be carried out through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal or through an e-tender process in accordance with existing rules.
- The initiative aims to integrate AI-powered tools into higher and technical education institutions across the state.
Static Topic Bridges
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Technology Integration
NEP 2020 represents India's first comprehensive education reform in over three decades, replacing the National Policy on Education (1986). It emphasises the transformative role of technology in education and envisions the integration of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and adaptive learning tools to enhance teaching and learning. The policy advocates a shift toward personalised, multidisciplinary, and technology-enabled learning environments.
- NEP 2020 introduces AI as a subject at secondary school level; CBSE offers AI as a skill module from Class VI and as an optional subject from Classes IX to XII
- The Ministry of Education proposes a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education with dedicated budgetary allocation
- The policy targets a gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 50% in higher education by 2035 (from approximately 27% currently)
- NEP 2020 envisions a National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) for facilitating technology integration
Connection to this news: Maharashtra's procurement of AI infrastructure directly implements NEP 2020's vision of technology-enabled education, making it one of the first states to formally approve AI-specific infrastructure spending for its higher education system.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Public Procurement Reform
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform launched in August 2016 for procurement of goods and services by government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings. It was established under provisions of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, making procurement through GeM mandatory for all central government organisations. State governments have been progressively adopting GeM for transparency and efficiency.
- GeM has over 70 lakh products and services listed from over 65 lakh sellers
- Total procurement value through GeM has crossed Rs 4 lakh crore (cumulative)
- The platform enables price comparison, direct purchase for items below Rs 25,000, and e-bidding for higher-value procurement
- GeM promotes Make in India and micro/small enterprise participation through preference policies
Connection to this news: Maharashtra's decision to procure AI infrastructure through GeM or e-tender reflects the push for transparent, rule-based public procurement in technology acquisition, ensuring competitive pricing and accountability in state spending.
AI in Indian Education: Challenges and Digital Divide
While AI integration in education offers personalised learning, automated assessment, and intelligent tutoring, India faces significant challenges in implementation. The digital divide between urban and rural areas, inadequate digital infrastructure in many institutions, teacher readiness gaps, and data privacy concerns remain key barriers. Only a fraction of India's higher education institutions have adequate computing infrastructure.
- India has over 1,000 universities and 42,000 colleges; digital readiness varies enormously
- AISHE 2021-22 data shows significant inter-state variation in GER and infrastructure quality
- A majority of Indian teachers lack technical skills for existing AI tools, making training critical
- The National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) provides the technical framework for education digitisation
Connection to this news: Maharashtra's Rs 22 lakh annual allocation, while a step forward, highlights the gap between policy ambition and actual investment; scaling AI infrastructure across the state's higher education network will require substantially larger commitments and parallel teacher training programmes.
Key Facts & Data
- Maharashtra approved Rs 22 lakh annual expenditure for AI infrastructure in higher education
- Procurement to be through GeM portal or e-tender process
- NEP 2020 targets 50% GER in higher education by 2035
- CBSE already offers AI as an optional subject from Classes IX to XII
- India has over 1,000 universities and 42,000 colleges
- GeM cumulative procurement value has crossed Rs 4 lakh crore
- Maharashtra's Directorate of Technical Education is implementing NEP 2020 in engineering and technical institutions