Quick Facts
- CBSE offers Artificial Intelligence as an optional skill subject in Classes 9 to 12 today.
- Subject code 417 covers Classes 9 and 10, code 843 covers Classes 11 and 12.
- CBSE plans compulsory Computational Thinking and AI in Class 9 from session 2027-28.
In This Article
The CBSE AI curriculum is still an optional skill subject in Classes 9 to 12, not a compulsory core subject in the 2026-27 session.
Headlines about compulsory AI refer to a different track. CBSE launched a Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum for Classes 3 to 8 from 2026-27, and it plans to extend a compulsory version to Class 9 from 2027-28, according to the Board.
Key Takeaways
- Two separate AI tracks now exist at CBSE, and parents are confusing the elective one with the compulsory one.
- Students entering Class 9 in 2026-27 still choose AI voluntarily, so no immediate action is forced on them.
- Schools should plan teacher training and lab readiness now, because the Class 9 shift lands in 2027-28.
CampusFeed Take
The interesting detail is not the mandate. It is the gap between the two AI tracks. The elective skill subject teaches Python, data literacy and machine learning basics. The compulsory Classes 3 to 8 course teaches reasoning, pattern recognition and ethical use, with a low-tech design that needs no device. School principals should watch this closest, because a school that already runs subject code 417 is not automatically ready for the 2027-28 Class 9 rollout. The two courses have different aims. At CampusFeed, we expect the real pressure point to be teacher supply in tier-2 and tier-3 schools by mid-2027. By Soumya Verma.
CBSE AI Curriculum: Codes, Classes and Timelines
The CBSE AI curriculum runs on two parallel tracks with different subject codes and different rollout dates. The table below sets out the current position for each stage.
| Stage | Course | Status in 2026-27 | Next Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classes 3 to 8 | Computational Thinking and AI | Compulsory, school-based assessment | Handbooks live on CBSE portal |
| Class 8 | AI awareness module | 15-hour module | Folded into new CT and AI course |
| Classes 9 and 10 | AI skill subject, code 417 | Optional elective | Compulsory CT and AI from 2027-28 |
| Classes 11 and 12 | AI skill subject, code 843 | Optional elective | Likely two electives, structure pending |
| Board examination | CT and AI | Not yet a board subject | First board exams expected 2029 |
The most telling number here is 2029. A student in Class 6 today will be the first to face an AI paper in a Class 10 board examination.
About CBSE
CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) is the national school board under the Ministry of Education, set up in its present form in 1962. It governs curriculum, examinations and affiliation for more than 30,000 schools in India and abroad. Its Department of Skill Education runs the AI skill subject. Full curriculum documents are published on the CBSE Academic Unit portal.
Who does the CBSE AI curriculum apply to?
The compulsory Computational Thinking and AI course applies to every CBSE student in Classes 3 to 8 from the 2026-27 session. The optional AI skill subject applies only to students in Classes 9 to 12 whose school offers it and who choose it.
CBSE first introduced AI in affiliated schools in 2019 as a skill subject. In the 2024-25 session, about 7,90,999 students from around 4,538 schools took AI at the secondary level, and about 50,343 students from around 944 schools took it in Classes 11 and 12, the Ministry of Education told the Lok Sabha in December 2024.
CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh has said textbooks for Class 9 Computational Thinking and AI are close to ready and will be introduced for the 2027-28 academic year. The Board has also said the 2027 examinations remain unchanged.
What is actually taught in Class 9 to 12?
The AI skill subject splits marks between theory and practical work, with employability skills forming a common first part. The content becomes noticeably harder after Class 10.
Classes 9 and 10, subject code 417
Class 9 and Class 10 students study three domains of AI, the AI Project Cycle, and basic Python coding, according to the official Class 9 AI curriculum document published by CBSE. The stated aim is readiness and appreciation, not deep engineering.
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Classes 11 and 12, subject code 843
Class 11 AI carries 100 marks, split as 50 theory and 50 practical. Units cover Python programming, data literacy, machine learning algorithms, natural language work, a capstone project, and AI ethics and values, as listed in the CBSE Class 11 syllabus for 2025-26.
Classes 3 to 8, the compulsory track
This course avoids heavy coding. It builds logical reasoning, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking, digital literacy and ethical use of technology. CBSE has published student and teacher handbooks for each grade from 3 to 8.
What This Means For You
If you are a student
You do not have to take AI in Class 9 this year. It stays an elective, and Information Technology or another skill subject remains a valid choice. If you enjoy data and logic puzzles, code 417 gives you a gentle Python start before Class 11. Check with your school first, since not every school offers it.
If you are a parent
You do not need to buy an expensive coding package. The Classes 3 to 8 course is activity driven and needs no special device. For Classes 9 to 12, treat AI as one skill option among many. Verify what your school actually offers before assuming your child must study it.
If you are a school principal or teacher
Your planning window for the Class 9 rollout is roughly 12 months. Teacher training, timetable space and assessment design all need attention before 2027-28. Download the grade-wise handbooks and the CT and AI curriculum from the CBSE circulars page and map them against your existing computer periods.
If you work in policy or media
Be precise about which track you are describing. The elective skill subject and the compulsory Computational Thinking and AI course are different in content, class coverage and assessment. Conflating them has already produced a round of misleading headlines about AI becoming compulsory in Class 9 this year.
What Is Next
Watch these dates as the rollout continues:
- Session 2026-27: compulsory CT and AI runs in Classes 3 to 8
- Session 2027-28: CT and AI expected to become compulsory in Class 9
- 2028: first board examinations under the revised Class 10 scheme
- 2029: AI expected to enter the Class 10 board examination framework
Is your school ready to teach AI to every Class 9 student by 2027?
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: July 23, 2026 at 11:30 IST
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information at the time of publishing. Exam dates, cutoffs, fees, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and scholarship details can change without notice. Always verify the latest information from the official portal of CBSE before taking any action. CampusFeed and its authors are not responsible for decisions made based on this article. This is not legal, financial, or career advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual guidance.
Written by Soumya Verma. Published: July 23, 2026. Updated: July 23, 2026. Have a tip or correction? Write to us at editorial@campusfeed.in.
