Central Square Foundation (CSF) hosted the EdTech and AI Convening – Education Dialogues on February 20, 2026, a satellite event of the India AI Impact Summit, uniting government leaders, philanthropies, EdTech innovators, and experts to chart India’s path for AI-driven equitable education.
Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan delivered the keynote, launching the
Bharat Survey for EdTech (BaSE) 2025 report. Covering 10 states, 12,500 low-income
households, and 2,500 teachers, it reveals 90% smartphone ownership and 63% children
using tech for learning, with rising AI awareness.
Pradhan hailed Digital India under PM Modi as empowerment, integrating tech into life for
ease and opportunity. “Technology anchored in education becomes a powerful equaliser,” he
said, aligning with Viksit Bharat 2047 via quality education and future-ready youth.
School Education Secretary Shri Sanjay Kumar emphasized BaSE’s role in evidence-based
policymaking, identifying gaps in underserved areas for targeted interventions, and learning outcomes.
Ashish Dhawan, CSF Founder-Chairperson, called it an inflexion point for digital
foundations, evidence, and AI to reimagine learning, intentional, pedagogically grounded,
equity-first. CEO Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja highlighted AI’s classroom entry, urging data to
inform stakeholders.
Global insights from the Gates Foundation’s Benjamin Piper stressed evidence, equity, and
context for AI’s promise in low-resource settings.
Sessions covered responsible AI foundations: IndiaAI Mission’s compute, datasets, safe
models; Bodhan AI Centre translating infrastructure to solutions; AI Samarth building literacy in underserved communities with Google.org.
Leaders advocated evidence-backed innovation, system design, and collaboration for
scalable learning gains toward inclusive education.
EdTech and AI Roadmap for Equitable Learning Launched
