Can AI Replace Teachers?

Focus on 'AI for Teachers', Not on 'AI Instead of Teachers'

- Pankaj Arora

As India strides into the Amrit Kaal, the role of education has never been more pivotal. The question, "Can artificial intelligence (AI) replace teachers in Indian classrooms?" is more than a technological query; it is a philosophical and pedagogical reflection on the future of learning.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has redefined the contours of Indian education. It champions holistic, learner-centered pedagogy, foundational literacy and numeracy, inclusion, and equity—areas where the human presence of a teacher is not optional, but essential.

While AI is about enhancing access, personalization, and administrative efficiency, it cannot replicate the multifaceted role of a teacher—especially in India's socio-cultural context. Teaching is not a transactional activity of information transmission; it is a transformational relationship that nurtures curiosity, empathy, resilience, and ethical citizenship.