OpenAI Is Now in India's Top Universities — IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, AIIMS and More

Q: What the Partnerships Involve

Each partnership includes campus-wide access to ChatGPT Edu, faculty training programs, and responsible-use frameworks. The focus is on embedding AI into coding, research, analytics, case analysis, and medical education workflows. IIM Ahmedabad and Manipal will also introduce OpenAI-backed certifications, adding formal credentials to the program.

By Jaspal February 18, 2026 Updated: February 18, 2026

OpenAI's Institutional Turn

OpenAI is moving beyond consumer tools into India's higher education system, partnering with six of the country's most prestigious institutions. The initiative aims to reach over 100,000 students, faculty, and staff in its first year — embedding AI into core academic workflows rather than offering standalone access.

The Partner Institutions

IIT Delhi — India's premier engineering institute
IIM Ahmedabad — top management school
AIIMS New Delhi — India's leading medical institution
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)
Pearl Academy

What the Partnerships Involve

Each partnership includes campus-wide access to ChatGPT Edu, faculty training programs, and responsible-use frameworks. The focus is on embedding AI into coding, research, analytics, case analysis, and medical education workflows.

IIM Ahmedabad and Manipal will also introduce OpenAI-backed certifications, adding formal credentials to the program.

Beyond Campus

OpenAI is also partnering with Indian ed-tech platforms — PhysicsWallah, upGrad, and HCL GUVI — to extend AI training beyond university campuses and reach working professionals and students outside the formal system.

The Bottom Line

OpenAI's India strategy is a calculated institutional pivot. By embedding ChatGPT into IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, and AIIMS workflows — not just giving students access — the company is shaping how the next generation of Indian engineers, doctors, and managers think about and use AI. That's a much longer-term play than a consumer subscription.