Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in education at the G20 education ministers’ meeting in Pune. He spoke about the potential of AI to transform learning and skills development, while also acknowledging the challenges that come with it. Modi stressed the importance of using AI in a balanced way that benefits all learners.

The G20 ministers met to approve the outcome documents, which will serve as a roadmap for coordinated global action to ensure inclusive and high-quality education for all learners. The education working group, which met in Chennai, Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, and Pune, focused on developing inclusive solutions and collective actions to address global educational challenges. Their priorities included foundational literacy and numeracy, inclusive and qualitative tech-enabled learning, capacity building for future work requirements, and fostering research and innovation through collaboration and partnerships.

In his recorded message, Modi urged the G20 to play a leading role in using technology to enhance global education. He emphasized the role of digital technology as an “equalizer” and a means to promote inclusion, highlighting its potential to expand access to education and adapt to future needs. Modi also stressed the importance of integrating technology with learning to enhance the e-learning experience.

Modi commended the Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), an e-learning portal that provides remote access to courses from renowned institutions. SWAYAM has achieved remarkable enrollment numbers, offering a wide range of 9,000 courses from the 9th grade to the postgraduate level.

Modi also proposed that G20 countries undertake international skill mapping to identify and address gaps in workforce capabilities. He stressed the need for continuous skilling, reskilling, and upskilling of the youth to equip them for the future and align their competencies with evolving work profiles and practices. India has already initiated skill mapping efforts, and Modi encouraged other G20 nations to follow suit, fostering a collective approach to workforce development.