ChatGPT and AI in Indian Education: Disruption or Assistance?

Author: Sarthak, National Law University

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT into Indian classrooms and universities has triggered an ongoing debate: are these innovations disruptive forces that threaten academic integrity, or powerful enablers redefining the future of learning? With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizing digital literacy, adaptive learning, and equitable access to quality education, the rise of AI aligns well with India's evolving educational paradigm. However, the legal and ethical frameworks governing their use remain underdeveloped and unclear.

ChatGPT, a language-based AI tool capable of producing human-like responses, has gained popularity among students for research, assignment drafting, language learning, and exam preparation. It has enabled greater accessibility, personalization, and immediacy in the learning process. According to a 2024 study by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), nearly 37% of higher education students in urban areas have used AI tools like ChatGPT to support their academic work.

Legal and Ethical Dilemmas

The key legal concerns revolve around academic integrity, plagiarism, copyright ownership, and data privacy. At present, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not issued a uniform regulatory framework for the use of AI in educational institutions, leaving individual universities to draft their own codes of conduct. This regulatory gap has led to inconsistencies: some institutions penalize students for plagiarism even when ChatGPT is used only to generate ideas, creating confusion around enforcement and intent.

The Copyright Act, 1957, presents another challenge. The law does not recognize non-human authorship, which complicates the issue of ownership over AI-generated content. If a student co-creates an academic paper with AI assistance, can they claim authorship? This ambiguity highlights the urgent need for legal reform that clearly defines intellectual property rights in the context of AI-assisted academic work.

Furthermore, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, place responsibility on digital platforms to prevent harmful or misleading content. However, AI tools like ChatGPT currently operate without mandatory checks for factual accuracy, bias, or quality control—raising questions about liability, especially in academic settings where misinformation can undermine learning outcomes.

Policy Alignment and Pilot Initiatives

Despite these challenges, the transformative potential of AI in education cannot be ignored. NEP 2020 actively advocates the integration of AI and machine learning into curricula, particularly to bridge educational disparities between urban and rural areas. In this regard, ChatGPT and similar tools can support vernacular education, help personalize learning pathways, and assist educators in content creation.

Notably, pilot programs in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have deployed AI-based chatbots to enhance language and communication skills in government schools, with positive outcomes. These experiments, documented in the Ministry of Education’s Pilot Report (2023), suggest that AI can complement traditional teaching, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Judicial Reflections

While Indian courts have yet to directly adjudicate on the legality of AI tools in education, relevant observations are emerging. In Avinash Singh v. Union of India (2023), the Delhi High Court underscored the need to balance digital innovation with safeguards against “technological overreach in academic assessments,” pointing toward a future where the judiciary may shape the contours of AI regulation in education.

Conclusion

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT represent a dual-edged innovation in Indian education—offering both immense opportunities and complex challenges. Their impact will ultimately depend on how India crafts forward-looking legal and policy frameworks that promote ethical usage, ensure academic fairness, and support inclusive learning. As education and technology converge, India must act swiftly to protect the integrity of learning while embracing the tools that can democratize and enhance it.