A recent report by EY-Parthenon in collaboration with FICCI, titled “Future-Ready Campuses: Unlocking the Power of AI in Higher Education,” reveals that more than 60% of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India now allow their students to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

The findings are based on a survey of 30 leading HEIs and cover both academic and administrative applications of AI in colleges and universities. While AI adoption has been gradually increasing, the report suggests that the current phase marks a shift from pilot experiments to deeper integration across multiple functions.

Key Findings

Generative AI in learning materials: About 53% of HEIs are now using generative AI tools to develop teaching or learning materials. 

Tutoring & chatbots: Nearly 40% of institutions have deployed AI-powered tutoring systems or chatbots to help students. 

Adaptive learning platforms: Roughly 39% of HEIs are using adaptive learning systems that tailor instruction to student needs. 

Automated grading: About 38% have started using AI for grading assessments.

AI-related institutional policy: Over 56% of universities and colleges have already put in place formal policies on AI usage.

Challenges & Recommendations

While the uptake is strong, the report makes clear that there are important gaps:

Infrastructure & resources: Many institutions are still lagging in reliable digital infrastructure, affecting consistent implementation.

Faculty readiness: The report notes uneven levels of faculty training and comfort with integrating AI tools into curricula.

Governance & policy: Although more than half have AI policies, the quality, scope, and enforcement of these policies vary widely. Institutions are being urged to draw up clearer rules around academic integrity, data privacy, and responsible AI 

To address these, the report recommends embedding foundational AI literacy in all disciplines (not just STEM), ensuring ethical awareness, and expanding AI-related content — such as machine learning, natural language processing, robotics — where feasible. It also emphasizes scaling up from experimentation to full-integration, with better governance, clearer guidelines, and support for faculty development.