New Delhi: Nearly half of the students surveyed in Delhi’s higher education institutions use Artificial Intelligence tools several times a week, with 23% reporting daily use and 21% using them several times a month. AI was used most frequently for research, with 84% saying they rely on AI for academic purposes, followed by writing at 76% and learning complex subjects at 68%.However, barriers to adoption remain significant, with 47% attributing limited AI use to lack of awareness and 45% citing limited knowledge on how to use them effectively. The findings are part of a new study by the Centre for Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) which surveyed 6,090 students across Delhi’s universities and colleges to understand how AI is transforming education.The report shows a growing reliance on AI tools for academic work but also highlights concerns about their accuracy and ethical implications. Over half the students (58%) rated AI highly for speed and efficiency, describing it as an effective time-management tool. Yet trust in its outputs remains guarded, with only 6% of respondents calling it highly accurate, and 45% perceiving AI tools to give moderately accurate results. As the CPRG study notes, “While students find AI useful, they don’t fully trust it to produce highly accurate work.”These findings align with global trends. According to the Digital Education Council’s 2024 Global AI Student Survey, 86% of students worldwide reported using AI in their studies, with 54% using it weekly and 24% daily. This global context underscores the speed at which AI adoption is unfolding—but it also highlights that the same issues surfaced in Delhi, from accuracy concerns to ethical dilemmas.Students in Delhi raised similar challenges. Nearly 70% encountered issues such as incorrect or misleading output, limited customisation, or ethical concerns like plagiarism, while 49% cited difficulties in understanding AI-generated responses and 48% pointed to infrastructural hurdles such as internet speed. While 46% preferred AI-based tools, an equal 46% found traditional human-interactive methods more engaging, and only 11% preferred AI exclusively.Ramanand, director of CPRG, underlined the importance of balance. “Technology should serve as an enabler, not a replacement for human interaction. Govts and agencies must exercise caution when adopting or recommending educational tools, as many fail to address the real needs of students and teachers. If tools are not aligned with the realities of classrooms and society, they risk hindering rather than helping the learning process,” he said. Emphasising the need for continuity with traditional practices, he added, “While technology will play a crucial role in shaping education, we cannot overlook the value of storytelling and dialogue. These time-tested approaches are essential for nurturing cognitive and emotional development and must be integrated alongside modern tools.”The report places these findings within the broader vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates the integration of advanced digital technologies into teaching and learning. Although NEP 2020 does not explicitly mention AI, it has catalyzed national initiatives such as CBSE’s AI curriculum, the YUVAi programme, and platforms like NEAT and SATHEE. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Assam are also incorporating AI into school curricula. Still, the study warns that “excessive student reliance on AI tools can weaken critical thinking and creativity,” underscoring the need for strong ethical oversight and balanced implementation.
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